X 



PS 35C3 
.R63 L3 
1914 
Copy 1 



^ Law of the Land 



99 



n pla^ In ffoui- Bets 



BY 
GEORGE BROADHURST 



Copyright, 1914, by George Broadhurst 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

38-30 WEST SSth Street 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 



CHARACTERS. 

Geoffrey Morton. 
Robert Harding. 
Arthur Brockland. 
Doctor Whittridge. 
Police Captain Pritchard. 
Inspector Cochrane. 
Chetwoode. » 

Policeman Burns. 
Policeman Taylor. 
Mrs. Harding, 
hurlburt. 

Act I. Mr. Harding's Study. Night. 

Act II. The dining room in the Harding home. 
Next morning. 

Act III. Mrs. Harding's room. A few minutes 
later than Act II. 

Act IV. The same as Act I. A few minutes later 
than Act III. 

Place: A large city.'ln the United States. 
Time: To-day. 



2 

SEP 24 \m 






The Law of the Land. 



ACT I. 



Scene: Harding's law library on the top floor of 
his home in one of the fashionable quarters of a 
large city in the United States. 

Time : Evening. 

The curtain rises on an empty stage. 
Brockland enters l. 2. He xcears a dinner coat 
and is in a good humor. He goes to the desk, 
picks up some letters, looks them over, humming 
meanwhile, then puts them near his typewriting 
machine and exits l. 3. There is a pause. 
Brockland re-enters, having changed his coat. 
He sits at the typewriter and starts xvriting. 
There is a pause. 

Chetwoode, the butler, enters l. 2, carrying a 
highball set — whiskey, etc. He places the tray 
near desk. 

Brock. Chetwoode ! 

Chet. Yes, Mr. Brockland 



Brock. I believe INIrs. Harding told you not to 
brina; any liquor up liere unless you had specific 
orders. 

Chet. I had specific orders, sir. 

Brock. From Mr. Harding? 

Chet. Yes sir. 

Brock. Oh! (Brockland resumes his work. 
3 



4 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Chetwoode crosses toxvard exit) By the way, Chet- 
woode 

Chet. Yes, Mr. Brockland? 

Brock. What part of the old country are you 
from ? 

Chet. I was born at Upper Tooting, sir. 

Brock. I'm from Surrey. 

Chet. Don't you wish you were back, sir? 

Brock. No, I can't say that I do. I couldn't get 
a position of any kind in England that would pay 
more than two pounds a week, while here I have a 
decent salary, I live in the house as one of the family 
and — well — taken all in all I think I'm rather lucky. 

Chet. But, to be private secretary to a man like 
Mr. Harding, must, if I may say so, sir, be very try- 
ing at times. 

Brock. Mr. Harding is one of the best lawyers in 
the country 

Chet. Of course, sir, — but — but — ahem! 

Brock. Oh, I know he has the devil of a temper, 
but I don't mind it. It's all in the day's work. 

Chet. Others mind it though, sir. I don't have 
to stand it and I'd have left long ago if it wasn't for 
M:-r. Harding. How she stands it I don't see. 

Brock. Chetwoode ! 

Chet. I'm .o,lad Mrs. Harding wasn't home to din- 
ner. He was even worse than usual to-night. You 
must have seen that, sir. 

Brock. I know, Chetwoode, but 

Chet. Something must have gone wrong at the 
office. He always takes such things out on her. 
Sometimes it makes my blood boil, as the saying is, 
sir ; it fairly makes it boil. 

Brock. Please, Chetwoode ! 

Chet. I've been here considerably longer than 
3'ou have, sir, and naturally I have more chance to 
notice things. I've seen him, when we've been giving 
a dinner, treat her before the guests as though he 

©Ci.D J5829.> 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 5 

was the nicest and most loving husband in all the 
v/orld — make a fuss over her and fairly smother her 
with pretty speeches — ^and then, when the guests 
have gone, turn round and saj^ things to her a decent 
man wouldn't say to ! 

Brock. {Very sharply) Please, Chetwoode ! 
Please ! (Pause) We won't discuss Mrs. Harding. 

Chet. Very good, sir. (Pause) Have you any- 
thing on to-day's election, sir? 

Brock. No. Have you? 

Chet. A trifle, sir ! One must have a bit of sport 
someliow, you know, sir. and as they have liardly 
any racing over liere, and no cricket, and football as 
isn't football — how can it be foothaW when you carry 
it in your hands — why, then, of course, sir — (Hard- 
ing enters) As T was — (Chetwoode stops abruptly. 
Harding crosses hrisJdy and aggressively pours out 
a highball and drinks it) Is there anything else, 
sir? 

Hard. Yes ! Do you know where Mrs. Harding is 
dining to-night? 

Chet. At the Sherman Thompson's, I believe, sir. 

Hard. Will she be late? 

Chet. I think not, sir. 

Hard. Don't you know? 

Chet. Well, yes, sir, in a way I do. 

Hard. Then why don't you tell me — ^Slight 
pause) — Well? 

Chet. I heard Mrs. Harding say to Master 
Benny, sir. that she was very tired and didn't intend 
to stay for the dance. 

Hard. When she comes in tell her that I want to 
see her, here, immediately. Understand — immedi- 
ately. 

Chet. I understand, sir. 

Hard. Tliat's all. (Chetwoode e.rits. There is a 
pause, during which Harding picks some papers from 



6 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

his desk. To Brockland) Take the brief in that 
Hudson Traction Case. (Harding dictates for a 
sliort time, Brockland taking the dictation in short- 
hand. The telephone rings) Pay no attention to it. 
(Harding contiiiues his dictation, the 'phone con- 
tinues to ring. Harding shoivs liis increasing irrita- 
tion) 

Brock. Hadn't I better answer it, sir? 

Hard. All right. Damn the tiling. 

(Brockland answers 'phone. Harding pours out a 
drink.) 

Brock. Hello! (Pause) Yes! (Pause) Lll 
find out, sir. Who is it wishes to speak with him? 
(Pause) Hold the wire, please! (To Harding) 
It's a Mr. Morton, sir. 

Hard. Morton ! 

Brock. Mr. Geoffrey Morton. He says he wrote 
you this moriiinp; and that the matter is most import- 
ant. 

Hard. Say I'm not in. 

Brock. (At 'phone) I'm sorry, sir. but 

Hard. Never mind — (He takes 'phone from 
Brockland. (At 'phone) Yes, this is Harding. 
(Pause) Certainly I got it — (Pause) Because I 
didn't think it needed any answer — (Pause) Well, 
tiiat's wliere we differ. (Pause) I can't see what 
good it would do for us to meet. (Pause) Afraid! 
Afraid!! That settles it, I'll see you. (Pause) 
Any time and any place you please — (Pause) 
W^hy not to-night? (Pause) Leave your dinner 
party. (Pause) What? (Pause) I say, leave your 
dinner party and see me here and now. I can't im- 
agine any reason unless it's a sentimental one. 
(Pause) You'll come? (Pause) Good. (Pause) 
The sooner the better — (Pause) Don't worry, I'll 
be waiting — (Hangs up receiver. To Brockland) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 7 

Tell Clietwoode Mr. Morton will call and he's to let 
me know at once. 

(Brockland goes to house 'phone. Harding finishes 
his drink.) 

Brock. (At house 'phone) That you, Chetwoode? 
{Pause) Mr. Geoffrey Morton will call and you are 
to let Mr. Harding know at once. (Pause) Yes. 
at once. Good-bye. (Brockland replaces house 
'phone) 

Hard. (To himself) Afraid! (To Brockland) 
Where was I .'' (Brockland repents last phrase or 
two of the dictation. Brockland resumes dictation 
which continues for a short time then a knock is 
heard) Come in. Come in ! 

(Mrs. Harding enters.) 

Mrs. H. Chetwoode says you want to see me. 
Hard. Did you know Geoffrey Morton was back.^ 
Mrs. H. Yes. 

Hard. When did he return.^ 
Mrs. H. Yesterday. 
Hard. How do you know ? 
Mrs. H. He sent me a note. 
Hard. What did lie say? 

Mrs. H. Simply that he was here and that he 
hoped we mia;ht meet soon. 
Hard. Was that all? 
Mrs. H. Yes. 

Hard. You are sure of that, are you? 
Mrs. H. Quite sure. 
Hard. Have you got it? 
Mrs. H. The "note? 
Hard. Yes. 
Mrs. H. Really, I 



8 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Hard. (Sarcastically) You destroyed it, of 
course. 

Mrs. H. No, I kept it. 

Hard. Wliere is it? 

j\Irs. H. (Goes to house 'phone. At house 'phone) 
Hello ! That you, Chetwoode ? There's a note from 
Mr. Geoffrey Morton on the desk in my room. Please 
get it and bring it here. (Mrs. H. replaces 'phone) 

Hard. Why didn't you tell me he had written you? 

Mrs. H. I didn't consider it necessary. 

Hard. You didn't think I'd be interested in your 
correspondence with Mr. Morton, eh? 

Mrs. H. There has been no correspondence. 

Hard. Not even while he was away? 

Mrs. H. During the five years Mr. Morton has 
been abroad I have not lieard from him either 
directly or indirectly. 

Hard. You've read about him, thougli. Tlie pa- 
pers have been full of the wonderful things accom- 
plished by our great engineer — the mountain he tun- 
nelled in Syria — the bridge he built in China, and now 
the marvelous dam he has just constructed in Africa. 

]\Irs. H. One couldn't help reading about them. 

(Knock on door.) 

Hard. Come. 

(Chetwoode enters and gives note to Mrs. Hard- 
ing.) 

Mrs. H. That's all, Chetwoode. (Chetwoode 
exits. Mrs. Harding hands note to Harding. He 
reads it) 

Hard. Ver}^. solicitous about Bennie, isn't he? 

Mrs. H. Not more than any friend would be after 
so long an absence. 

Hard. Ha ! Friend ! 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 9 

Mrs. H. (Indicating note) May I — 

(Harding hands note to Mrs. Harding.) 

Hard. And, now, having seen your note it is only 
fair that you should see mine. 

Mrs. H. Yours? 

Hard. I heard from Morton this morning. 
(Harding takes note from desk and offers it to Mrs. 
Harding) 

^Irs. H. I don't care to read it. 

Hard. I want you to read it. 

Mrs. H. Very well. (Mrs. Harding reads hut 
makes no comment) 

Hard. See what he says? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Hard. He accuses me of lying about him after 
he had left. (Brockland starts to exit. To Brock- 
land) You needn't go. There's nothing private 
about this. 

Brock. If you^ll excuse me, Mr. Harding, I'd 
rather 

Hard. Oh, sit down. Sit down! (Brockland re- 
sumes his seat. To Mrs. Harding) He says I cir- 
culated rumors that he had to leave or be accused of 
embezzlement. 

Mrs. H. So I read. 

Hard. You don't believe him do you? (There is 
a pause) Do you? (There is a pause) He says I 
did these things and I say I didn't. Now which do 
you believe, him or me? (There is a pause) Well? 

Mrs. H. Mr. INIorton gives the names of the men 
to whom you said it. 

Hard. In spite of that I tell you I didn't say it. 
Noro which do you believe? (There is a pause) 
Which do you believe him or me? (There is a 
pause) Damn you, I'll — ! (Harding advances 
threateningly toward Mrs. Harding) 



10 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Brock. Mr. Harding! 

Hard. And what has this got to do with you? 

Brock. I can't stand by and see a lady insulted 
like this. I really can't. 

Mrs. H. Mr. Brockland — Please 

Hard. Oh^ you can't, eh? 

Brock. No sir, I can't. 

Mrs. H. Oh, please ! Please ! ! 

Hard. Then let me tell you that you don't have 
to stand it. You quit now, this minute. You're dis- 
charged. 

Mrs. H. It's my fault. Don't blame him. 

Hard. Do you hear, you're discharged. Get 
out. 

Mrs. H. I'm so sorry. 

Brock. Thank you ver}- much. 

(There is a pause.) 

Hard. Well, why don't you go? (Pause) Wliy 
don't you go? 

Brock. I really couldn't leave 3'our wife alone 
with you. 

(Harding gasps xcith rage.) 

Hard. You — you couldn't — ! Get out ! Get out ! 
Brock. (Quietly and steadily) I meant just 
what I said Mr. Harding. 
Hard. You ! You ! 

(He strikes Brockland and a struggle ensues, the 
details of which are to be arranged. Brock- 
land is worsted in the struggle. His face is 
bruised and the first and second fingers of his 
right hand are injured. After the struggle.) 

ISIrs. H. I'm so sorry. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 11 

Brock. He did give it to me didn't he? 

Hard. Serves you right for your damned im- 
pertinence. 

Mrs. H. You're not badly hurt? 

Brock. . I think this cheek will be rather bruised 
and there's something the matter with these fingers. 
(Brockland indicates the ttvo first fingers of his 
right hand) 

Mrs. H. Let me see them. (Mrs. Harding ex- 
amines his fingers) I believe they're broken. 

Brock. Broken? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Brock. Well — that gives the typewriter a holiday 
doesn't it? {He indicates the machine) 

Hard. You've got a holiday too — a permanent 
one so far as I'm concerned. Don't forget that. 
(There is a knock) Come 

(Chetwoode enters.) 

Chet. Mr. Morton is here sir. 
Hard. Bring him up. 
Mrs. H. Mr. Morton? 

Hard. Yes, my dear. (To Chetwoode) That's 
all. Bring him up. 

(Chetwoode exits.) 

» 

]\Irs. H. I don't know how to thank you, Mr. 
Brockland. 

Brock. It was nothing — really it wasn't. 

^Irs. H. I'm not sure about the fingers. Do they 
hurt? (Brockland nods) Badly? 

Brock. I'm ashamed to say how much. 

Mrs. H. Call up Dr. Whittridge at once won't 
you, please, and have him come right over and at- 
tend to them. 

Brock. Thank you I will. 



12 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. Hurry please. 

Hard. And pack up and be out by to-morrow. 

Brock. Beg pardon? 

Hard. I said pack up and be out by to-morrow. 

Brock. Thank you very much. 

Mrs. H. I shall see you again before you leave. 

Brock. That will be nice. Good-bye. (Brock- 
land offers her his right hand. Mrs. Harding takes 
it. Brockland unconsciously winces^ 

Mrs. H. Oh ! 

Brock. That's all right! My fault entirely. 
Good-bye. Good-bye! Good-bye! (Brockland 
exits) 

Hard. Morton will be here in a minute. You'd 
better go. 

Mrs. H. Why? 

Hard. You seem to forget that five years ago he 
calmly told me that he was in love with you and that 
you were in love with him^ and proposed that you and 
I should be divorced. 

Mrs. H. I don't forget it. Neither do I forget 
that, knowing of our love and, without the smallest 
spark of affection on your side, you refused the 
divorce and forced me to continue to live here so 
that I could be with my boy. 

Hard. He's my boy as well, remember that ! Yes, 
and remember that in spite of your molly-coddling. 
I'm going to bring him up in the way he should go. 

Mrs. H. You won't understand that he's still only 
a baby. 

Hard. He's nearly nine years old and it's time he 
had some sense ! As for Morton — we haven't met 
since then — and now he's coming to see me about this 
note! And I'm ready for him too! (He takes a 
revolver frovi the drawer of the desk) 

jNIrs. H. All the more reason why I should stay. 

(There is a knock on the door. Harding j)uts re- 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 13 

volver hack qiiickh/.) 

Hard. Come. 

(Chetwoode enters.) 

Chet. Mr. Morton, sir. 
Hard. Very well. 

(Chetwoode ea-iis. Morton enters. He is surprised 
at seeing Mrs. Harding but he keeps himself 
well in hand.) 

\ 
Morton. How do you do. 

Mrs. H. How do you do. {She offers her hand. 
He takes it) Welcome home. 
Mort. Thank you. 

Hard. This isn't a social call is it ^Morton? 
MoRT. Hardh'. 

Hard. Then suppose we get to business. 
^NIoRT. I'm ready. But perhaps Mrs. Hard- 
ing ! 

Mrs. H. I intend to stay. 

(Morton looks at Hardincj xcho makes no response.) 

MoRT. Very well. {To LLarding) On my return 
yesterday I found that many of my business friends 
didn't meet me with the cordiality I had expected. 

Hard. Well ? 

Mort. I was puzzled and surprised and quite 
naturally I made up mv mind to iind the reason. 

Hard. Well? 

\MoRT. I was told that you, soon after my de- 
parture, tlirew out liints that my leaving here was 
both sudden and suspicious. 

Hard. It was sudden, wasn't it? 

Mort. Perhaps, — but it wasn't suspicious. .1 



14 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

learned that later you became bolder and said, prac- 
tically in so many words, that I had to leave or be 
accused of gross mismanagement or embezzlement. 

Hard. Whoever told you lied. 

]MoRT. W^ill you put that in writing? {There is- 
a pause) Will you put it in writing ]\Ir. Harding? 

Hard. No. Why should I? 

MoRT. Why not, if what you say is true? {There 
is a pause) Well, why not? 

Hard. I won't do it, that's all. 

MoRT. Of course you won't because you know 
how easily it could be proved that you lied. (Hard- 
ing's hand goes toward the drawer where the pistol 
is. Mrs. Harding gasps. Harding stops. To Mrs. 
Harding) Wliat is it? 

Mrs. H. Nothing! Nothing! 

MoRT. {To Mrs. Harding) I'm sorry to have 
to say such things before you. 

Hard. You needn't be. We all understand one 
another pretty well ! Go on with what you came 
for. 

MoRT. Four men of unquestioned honesty and in- 
tegrity are willing to testify that you did make the 
assertions I have quoted. x\nd so you must do one of 
two things, either stand a suit for criminal libel or — 
sign this. (Morton takes a document from his 
pocket and offers it to Harding) 

Hard. What is it? 

MoRT. Read it. 

(Harding reads.) 

Hard. A retraction, eh? 

]MoRT. Exactly ! A retraction, full, complete and 
specific. 

Hard. And do you think I'll sign it? 

MoRT. If you don't you know the alternative — 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 15 

and there can be absolutely no question as to how 
the suit will end. 

Hard. Bring the suit. Bring it ! As for this — ! 
(^He crumples the retraction and throzvs it in the 
wastepaper basket) 

MoRT. That's final .^ 

Hard. It is. 

MoRT. Very well. (Morton turns to ISIrs. 
Harding) I hope we shall meet again soon. 

(Mrs. Harding botes.) 

i 

Hard. I'm sorry to tell you that you won't. INIrs. 
Harding is leaA'ing for our country home in the 
morning. 

Mrs. H. In the morning? 

Hard. Yes. 

Mrs. H. But we've only been back a month or so. 

Hard. The town isn't good for the boy and I 
have decided that he shall spend the winter in the 
country. 

(There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. Very well. (To Morton) As we prob- 
ably shan't meet again for some time^ will you wait 
a moment please.^ (^Irs. Harding exits. There is 
a pause) 

Hard. Honestly now, did you really think I'd 
sign that — Did you? (He points to paper. There 
is a pause) Ha! You don't know me. (There is a 
pause) 

(Mrs. Harding enters rvith Bennie in his pajamas 
and blinking with sleep. Morton gazes at 
h im . ) 

Ben. What makes it so licht mamma? 



16 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Hard. What's the meaning of tliis? 

Mrs. H. As we are going to the country to-raor- 
row I tliought tliat Mr. Morton would like to see 
Bennie before we leave. 

MoRT. Thank you. I'm very glad of the chance. 

Hard. And why should ^fr. Morton be so anxious 
to see the child? 

Mrs. H. Because tliey were such good friends. 

Hard. Ha. 

Mort. Yes, we were the best of friends ! You 
know me, don't you, Bennie? 

(Harding xcatches the scene. ^ 

Ben. Do I mamma? 

Mrs. H. You will, dear, if you think. 

Ben. It's so hard to think ! I'm so sleepy. 

MoRT. You were going to be a soldier and wanted 
a gun. Don't you remember? 

Ben. I — I think I do. 

Mrs. H. Who fed the squirrels for you in the 
park that day? 

Mort. And gave you peanuts so that you could 
feed one as well? 

Ben. He took them out of my hand didn't he? 

Mort. Yes. 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Ben. I remember. His paws were so cold. 

Mort. That's it. 

Mrs. H. Of course it is dear. 

Ben. It's so long ago. 

Mort. And the sleigh? 

Mrs. H. The big one. 

Ben. The one I have yet? 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Mort. Who got that for you? 

Ben. Uncle Geoffrey ! Oh, I know. You're 
Uncle Geoffrey. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 17 

Mrs. H. Of course he is. 

MoRT. You remember me nozc, don't you? 

Ben. I — I'm not quite sure. But I know about 
you — riots. 

MoRT. Do you? 

Ben. Oh, yes. Mother and I have talked about 
you very often. 

MoRT. That's good. 

Ben. There's one thing I remember, I'm sure I do. 

MoRT. What's that? 

Ben. Why — ^why 

Mrs. H. What is it, dear? 

Ben. Uncle Geoffrey promised me a pony and I 
haven't got it yet. 

Mort. You shall have it Bennie. 

Ben. When? 

Mort. Just as soon as Mamma gives her permis- 
sion. 

Ben. Oh, goodie ! 

Hard. What about my permission. Isn't that 
necessary or have I no rights in the matter? 

Mort. I beg your pardon. Your permission will 
be necessary, of course. 

Hard. Thank you. (To Bennie) Come here. 
(Bennie goes to Harding rather unwillingly and ap- 
prehensively) Why didn't you speak to me when 
you came in? 

Ben. I didn't see you papa it was so light. 

Hard. So light that you couldn't see me? 

Ben. Yes, papa. 

JSIrs. H. He Avas sleeping very soundly and the 
sudden change from the darkness of his own room — 
it's only across the hall you know — to the glare here, 
upset him, didn't it, dear? 

Ben. Yes, mamma. It must be awfully late. 
Can I go now? 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Ben. Will you come with me? 



18 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. Yes, darling, for just a minute. 

Ben. Goodie. (He offers his hand to Morton 
who takes it) Good night. 

MoRT. Good night, Bennie. 

Ben. Good night, papa. (There is a pause) 
Good night, papa. (There is a pause. Bennie shows 
his uncertainty) 

Mrs. H. Come, dear. (Mrs. Harding takes 
Bennie's hand and goes toward door) 

Hard. Just a minute. 

(Mrs. Harding with Bennie stops.) 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Hard. I want to talk to him. 

Mrs. H. He's very sleepy. 

Hard. I want to talk to him. 

Mrs. H. If he gets too wide awake he won't 
sleep again. 

Hard. You should have thought of that before 
you brought him. (Harding indicates that Bennie 
is to go to him. jSIrs. Harding releases Bennie's 
hand. He goes toward Harding as before) So 
that is Uncle Geoffrey? 

Ben. Yes, papa. 

Hard. And you don't know whether you remem- 
ber him or not. 

Ben. No, papa. 

MoRT. He was too young. 

Mrs. H. Of course. It was foolish of me even 
to imagine that he would recall him. 

Hard. But you did imagine it. (There is a 
pause) Didn't you.'' (There is a pause) Didn't 
you? 

Mrs. H. I imagined that he might but I see now 
how absurd it was. (There is a pause) 

Ben. (Sleepily to himself) I hope I'll get him 
soon. ^ 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 19 

Hard. Why Uncle Geoffrey? 

Mrs. H. Because, before you and Mr. Morton — 
disagreed — Bennie called him Uncle Geoffrey for the 
same reason that he now calls Mr. Fisher, Uncle 
Robert and Mr. Markhnm, Uncle Fred. 

Ben. (As before) I'd like a black one. 

Hard. Does your mother talk to you about your 
other Uncles? 

1'en. {As before) With a long tail. 

Hard. I'm speaking to you. 

(Bennie is recalled.) 

Ben. Yes, papa? 

Hard. Does your motlier talk to you about your 
other Uncles? 

Mrs. H. Oh, please ! Please ! 

Hard. Does she? 

Ben. No pajDa. But tney're here and Uncle 
Geoffrey was away. 

Hard. What does she say about your Uncle 
Geoffrey ? 

Mrs. H. I protest against this. 

Hard. What does she say? 

Ben. She says he goes all over the world build- 
ing bridges and things and that when I grow up I 
must try to be a good man like him. 

Hard. Like him ? 

Ben. Yes, papa. 

Hard. Not like me. 

Ben. No, papa. Like Uncle Geoffrey. {There is 
a pause. Harding in anger, turns away) Can I 
have the pony soon, mamma? 

Mrs. H. We'll see, darling. Come dear. (Mrs. 
Harding tahes Bennie's hand totoard exit) 

{Speaking simultaneousli/ as they go toward exit.) 



20 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ben. I saw a black one once with a long tail and 

I'd like him. Of course if I can't have him 

Hard. Wait. 

(Mrs. Harding stops.) 

Mrs. H. Please. (Mrs. Harding starts again 
■with Bennie) 

Hard. Wait. (Mrs. Harding stojjs with Bennie. 
There is a pause. To Bennie) Come here. 

Mrs. H. This is unreasonable. 

Hard. Come here. (Bennie goes to Harding. 
There is a pause) Why haven't I seen this month's 
report from school? 

(Bennie is frightened and Mrs. Harding is spurred 
into quick action.) 

Mrs. H. We'll take that up to-morrow. 

Hard. We'll take it up now. 

Mrs. H. Let it go until to-morrow. Please do. 
Please. 

Hard. We'll take it up now. Do you hear — ■ 
now! (Mrs. Harding rvith a gesture shoxvs she is 
beaten. There is a pause) W^as it a good report? 

Ben. Yes, papa. 

Hard. In — everything? 

Ben. Reading was good. And spelling too. 

Mrs. H. So was writing, yes and deportment, 
and grammar and geography. 

Hard. And — arithmetic? (There is a pause) 
That's what I'm interested in — arithmetic. (There 
is a pause) Well? 

Mrs. H. That — wasn't — very good. 

Hard. Ha! 

Mrs. H. But it wasn't Bennie's fault, it really 
Wasn't. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 21 

Hard. (To Bennie) You know what I told you 
last month. 

Mrs. H. Oh, don't! Don't! It isn't his fault I 
tell you. He's like I am. He just can't do it, that's 
all ! We've worked together night after night — and 
his marks are so good in everything else. He can't 
help it I tell you. He can't help it. 

(Harding takes a zchip or a cane from the wall. 
Mrs. Harding gasps. Bennie goes to his 
mother.) 

Morton. My God, Harding, you wouldn't- 



Hard. And what has it to do with you? (Pause) 
Well.? 

MoRT. But with a thing like that. 

Hard. What concern is it of yours.? 

MoRT. You shan't do it. 

Hard. And why shan't I? 

MoRT. Because I won't let you. 

Hard. And whv won't you let me? (Pause) 
Well? 

MoRT. Because — ! (There is a pause) 

Hard. Well? (There is a pause) 

Mrs. H. (To Morton) Don't interfere. Let 
me! Let me! 

Mort. But to stand by and see 

Mrs. H. For my sake. 

MoRT. How can I ! 

]Mrs. H. And — his — (She points to Bennie. 
There is a pause. jNIorton yields. There is a pause. 
With a gesture to Bennie to follow him Harding 
starts toward the door. Mrs. Harding intercepts 
him) Don't do it. For God's sake don't ! Whip him 
if you must but not with that. 

(Harding exits without a xcord. Bennie goes to his 



22 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

mother. She drops down and embraces him. 
There is a pause.) 

MoRT. I can't stand it. I've got to interfere. 
I've got to. 

Mrs. H. No, no ! Think what it might mean. 

Hard. {Off) Are you coming.'' 

Mrs. H. {Going) Listen to me. You must 
listen — {She exits but continues talking. Off stage) 
I can't let you do it, I can't. It isn't his fault. He's^ 
done the best he could. He's tried so hard and — 
{During this speech Morton picks up the boy, holds 
him in his arms and kisses him) I've tried too. Oh, 
it's terrible to think of your doing such a thing. 
Don't do it. Oh, don't ! Don't ! Don't ! 

Hard. {Off') I told him last month. Send him 
to me. 

Mrs. H. {Off) I can't. 

Hard. {Off) Then I'll fetch him. 

Mrs. H. {Off) No. Don't do that. I'll send 
him. 

Hard. {Off) Then do it. 

Mrs. H. {Off) I will. I will. (Mrs. Harding 
re-enters. She sees Morton xvith Bennie in his 
arms and gasps. In a whisper) Suppose he should 
come. {Short pause) Give him to me. You must. 
{Pause) You must! 

(Morton puts Bennie down. There is a pause.) 

Hard. {Off) Well? 

(Mrs. Harding leads Bennie toward exit.) 

Ben. {Speaking as they go) Papa's going to 
whip me — I haven't done anything and he's going to 
whip me. 

(Mrs. Harding kisses Bennie.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 23 

Hard. (Off) I'm waiting. 

(Mrs. Harding releases Bennie.) 

Ben. (Speaking as he goes) I haven't done any- 
thing and papa's going to whip me. 

(Bennie exits. Mrs. Harding slams the door and 
stands with her back against it and her hands to 
her ears. Morton in pantomime shoxvs his feel- 
ings. There is a pause. The crack of the whip 
is heard. Bennie off stage cries " Don't papa. 
Don't — Please don't " then wails aloud. This 
continues for a short time.) 

Mort. I can't stand it. (Bennie's cries con- 
tinue) I'm going in there. 
Mrs. H. Geoffrey. 
Mort. I am. I tell you, I am. 

(lie pulls Mrs. Harding aside and exits. The door 
is left open. Mrs. Harding stands on stage 
looking through door at scene enacted off.) 

Mort. (Off stage) Let that boy alone. 
Hard. (Off) Take your hands off me. 
Mort. (Off) Let that boy alone. 
Hard. (Off) Take your hands off me. (There 
is a pause) You won't, eh.'' 

(There are sounds as of a struggle between the two 
men. In the struggle the men apparently come 
from the boy's bedroom into the hall. One man 
apparently backs the other against the wall and 
chokes him. Then Morton re-enters carrying 
the whip which has been broken during the 
struggle. He throws the whip across the stage. 
There is a pause. Harding enters.) 



24 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. I'm coming, Bennie. I'm coming". 
(Mrs. Harding exits l. There is a pmise) 

Hard. Well I've learned what I wanted to know. 
He isn't my son. He's yours. 

MoRT. It's a lie. 

Hard. It's the truth but it never came to me 
till I saw the three of you there together. 

INIoRT. You're mad. 

Hard. Then it came to me — like a flash — {He in- 
dicates his breast) And I knew it — I knew that it 
was so. 

MoRT. You're mad, I tell you. 

Hard. In spite of what was in my heart my brain 
was never so keen as at that minute. I realized that 
the only way I could prove the truth was to make 
you betray yourself and instantly I thought of the 
boy. Then the whole scheme leaped into my mind. 
I would beat him — beat him in a way that no father 
with blood in his veins could stand. And I did it, and 
it worked, it worked as I had planned and you be- 
trayed yourself as I had planned. 

MoRT. I did just what any other man would have 
done. 

(^Irs. Harding re-enters.) 

Hard. But not in the same way ! You weren't a 
man protecting a child you were a father fighting for 
his child. And he is your child. He is. 

Mort. It's a lie. 

Hard. It's the truth. {To Mrs. Harding) Isn't 
it? Isn't it.^ 

Mrs. H. Yes it is the truth 

MoRT. Margaret ! 

(Harding gasps.) 

Mrs. H. What's the use of denying it any longer. 
Why continue this life of deception and horror ! 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 25 

Hard. You admit it ! 

Mrs. H. Yes, I admit it. 

MoRT. And so do I. 

Hard. Ha! 

]MoRT. You knew I was in love with her live years 
ago — I told you that before I left — yes and it was the 
cause of your hatred of me — and you knew as well 
tliat she was in love with me — what you didn't know 
was that M^e had been in love for four years. 

Hard. For four years — — - 

MoRT. Yes. 

Mrs. H. Within three months of our marriage I 
was nothing in your life, and in less than a year your 
cruelty, your coldness, and your neglect had killed 
whatever affection I had had for you and you knew it. 
There has never been any deception on that point be- 
tween us. Has there? (There is a pause) You 
know there hasn't ! Well, later — we — met — when I 
was away for the summer and you were too much oc- 
cupied even to write to me. Then for the first time 
— I loved. 

MoRT. And I. 

Mrs. H. Before the summer was over he was 
called away to South America and before he re- 
turned the boy was born. 

Hard. And when he returned you pretended you 
had never met before. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. To avoid any possible scandal in case you 
would consent later to a divorce. 

Hard. I see. 

MoRT.' But you wouldn't consent. 

Mrs. H. You refused although you knew that I 
cared for him. 

^NIoRT. And we agreed to try to kill our love by 
separation and silence. And so I went abroad — and 
stayed there for five years. 

Mrs. H. Without sending me a word. 



26 • THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

MoRT. But my love didn't die. It lived. 

Mrs. H. And mine. 

MoRT. And I wanted — just to see her and the 
boy again — that was all — and so yesterday I wrote 
her 

Mrs. H. The note you read. 

MoRT. And now — you know. 

Hard. As you say — now I know ! 

{There is a pause.) 

MoRT. I'll 'phone my sister. You get tlie boy, 
dear, and come with me. 

Mrs. H. Yes. (Mrs. Harding starts as if to go to 
exit) 

Hard. Just a minute. 

(Mrs. Harding stops.) 

MoRT. Well? 

Hard. Please remember that you are speaking 
of my wife and of my son. 

MoRT. He is not your son. 

Mrs. H. No. 

Hard. He was born in wedlock and lie is my son 
— till you prove to the contrary in a court of law ! 
When you have done that I shall be very pleased to 
surrender him to you. Till you have done it — he 
stays with me. 

MoRT. He will not stay with you. 

Hard. (Sarcastically) How will you prevent it 
— abduct him.'' How the press would revel in it, eh.^ 

Mrs. H. No. We can't have that — the scandal ! 

MoRT. It is the fear of scandal that has caused 
us all these years of unhappiness. We have got to 
face it sometime, why not now. Besides the story 
has to come out soon anyway. 

Hard. Whv? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 27 

MoRT. The divorce. 

Hard. What divorce? 

MoRT. Yours. 

Mrs. H. From me. 

Hard. Don't you tliink you are hurrying tilings.^ 

Mrs. H. You mean — you won't give me a divorce? 

MoRT. Even now? 

Hard. Why should I ? What advantage would 
it be to me? {There is a pause) So you thought 
this time I would say " Take her and my blessing 
willi lier." You thought I would be willing to make 
myself a laughing stock for all my friends and ac- 
quaintances and do it merely for your convenience 
and so that you two could live the rest of your days 
in peace and happiness. You flatter me, really you 
do. Altruistic thougli I am, believe me. please, I am 
not so altruistic as that. 

MoRT. And — there will be no divorce — even now, 
— that you know? 

Hard. There will be no divorce — even now — that 
I know. 

Mrs. H. Oh, my God! 

(Harding goes to house 'phone. Morton com- 
forts Mrs. Harding.) 

Hard. (At 'phone) Hello! Ls that you Chet- 
woode ? Mr. Morton is going. Come up and show 
him the way out. (Harding replaces the 'phone) 

Mort. I could kill you, Harding. 

Hard. And I could kill you and do it with plea- 
sure. But I prefer peace and quiet and the comforts 
of a domestic life with my beloved wife and son. 

MoRT. He's not yours. He's mine, do you hear, 
mine. 

Hard. She is my wife and he is my son. As my 
wife my home is still open to her. She can of course 



28 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

desert me if she pleases and go with you but if she 
does — my son stays here with me. 

MoRT. Damn you, I'll — (A knock is heard on 
door L. 2. There is a pause) 

Hard. Well.'' (There is a jjause. Morton in 
pantomime shoit's that lie is beaten) Come. (Chet- 
wooDE enters) Good-bye, Mr. Morton. I am glad 
your visit has been so pleasant and s^tisfactor3^ 

MoRT. (To Mrs. Harding) You'll hear from me 
in the morning. Good-bye. 

Mrs. H. Good-bye. 

(^loRTON exits, folloxced by Chetwoode. There is a 
paiise. Harding laughs.) 

Hard. Well, my dear, I don't think you two had 
much the better of that exchange. (He laughs 
again) He imagines that I intend to go through life 
supporting you and his son! It would be a prettv 
revenge I admit but I don't care for revenge at that 
price. (His manner changes. He becomes vindic- 
tive and vengeful) There'll be no divorce but there 
will be a suit for separation ! And what a delight 
it will be to the scavengers of the press. How they 
will revel in it. What a feast it will make for their 
readers. Can you see the headlines ! And the photo- 
graphs — on the front page — photographs of you — 
and the boy ! They will be sure to want pictures of 
the boy and I'll see that they get them! 

Mrs. H. You can't hurt me any more. 

Hard. They shall have the facts in all their de- 
tails ! And how the Sob Sisters will play them up. 
" The story of the Law3^er's Wife and the Great 
Engineer." " They kept the Secret for ten Years." 
" The Love that Separation and Silence could Not 
Kill." Can you see it? Can you see it? By God 
I'll make your name — and the boy's — a by-word 
through the country — and then I'll kick you out — 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 29 

liick you out — both of you — into the streets — and even 
then you won't be able to marry Morton and your son 
will still be just what he is to-day. It's the law of 
the landl 

(]\Irs. Harding heeps sUent.) 

Mrs. H. You can't hurt me any more. 

Hard. Can't hurt vou, eh.'' 

Mrs. H. No. 

Hard. I will before I get through — one way or 
another. I'll make you think you've never really 
known what suffering is. One way or another I'll — 
I'll — ! ( His eyes rest on the whip) I'll do it — and 
more and I'll begin now! 

{He picks up the xvhip. Mrs. Harding sees this and 
screams.) 

Mrs. H. You wouldn't do that. You couldn't do 
it. You couldn't. 

Hard. He shall never forget this day as long as 
he lives! Can't hurt you, eh? Ha! I'll tlirash him 
till he won't be able to stand. 

(Mrs. Harding takes the pistol frovi the draicer and 
backs iotcard the door.) 

Mrs. H. Put that down! 

Hard. I'm not afraid. 

]\Irs. H. Put it down — or I'll shoot. 

Hard. Oh, no you won't. 

Mr.«. H. I wilfl tell you, I will! 

(Harding laiir/hinf/ sarcasticalli/ f/oes toicard door.) 

Hard. You can't frighten me. (Harding still 
advances) 



30 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. I'll shoot! I'll shoot! I'll — 



(Mrs. Harding jires. Harding falls. There is a 
pause. Mrs. Harding goes toward Harding, 
looks at him and gasps with horror. Brock- 
land enters.) 

Brock. What's wrong! What is it? 

(There is a pause. Brockland realizes the situa- 
tion, listens at Harding's heart, etc. Mrs. 
Harding gasps the question: 'Is he dead?" 
Brockland nods. Then takes the revolver 
from Mrs. Harding and kneeling puts it near 
the hand of the dead man. Then still kneeling 
he looks up at Mrs. Harding.) 

CURTAIN ON ACT I. 



ACT II. 



Scene: Dining room in Harding's home. 

Time: Next morning. 

DISCOVERED: Chetwoode busy at breakfast 

table. 

There is a pause. 

Brockland enters. 

Brock. Morning, Chetwoode. 

Chet. Good morning, Mr. Brockland. 

Brock. Am I the first? 

Chet. Master Bennie has had his breakfast, sir, 
but neither Mr. nor Mrs. Harding has come down yet, 
sir. 

Brock. Then I am the first. 

Chet. Yes sir. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 31 

Brock. Good. (Slight pause) Did you win on 
yesterday's election? 

Chet. a little, sir. 

Brock. Your judgment must be splendid. 

Chet. It wasn't judgment, sir. In fact, I didn't 
know what the election was about, sir. 

Brock. Really? 

Chet. No, sir. Being of a sporting turn of mind, 
as the saying is, I wanted to have a little bit on. 

Brock. Naturally. 

Chet. Bristol, the butler at the Davenports, sir, 
he wanted to have a bit on as well, so we put two 
pieces of paper in a hat, one marked Democrat and 
the other Republican. I pulled the Republican and it 
won. There wasn't much sport in it, sir — no judg- 
ment or form or anything like that — but it served its 
purpose, sir 

Brock. I see. 

Chet. I should have liked to have been in the 
crowd last night, sir — I'm very fond of revelry, as the 
saying is — but all the other servants had permission 
to go out and so I had to remain in. Were you out at 
all, sir? 

Brock. Oh, yes. Yes, I was out. 

Chet. Were the crowds rough, sir? 

Brock. Fairly so. 

Chet. That's probably how you came by that 
bruise on your cheek, sir. 

Brock. Well, yes, it is in a way. The fact of the 
matter is, though, that a taxi driver wanted to bilk me 
on the fare and I wouldn't stand for it. 

Chet. And you had a fight, sir? 

Brock. Yes. What do you think of that? 

Chet. Judging by the result, sir, I think you 
picked the wrong driver. 

Brock. Oh, he knew he'd been in a fight. I landed 
one punch so hard I hurt two of my fingers but they're 
better to-dav. 



3'2: THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Chet. That's good, sir. 

(Mrs. Hardhstg enters.'} 

Brock. Good morning. 

Mrs. H. Good morning. 

Brock. The Republicans won. 

Mrs. H. Did they? I liaven't seen the papers yet. 

Chet. Shall we wait for Air. Harding, madam? 

Mrs. H. No, Chetwoode. 

Chet. Very good, madam. 

(Mrs. Harding and Brockland sit at table. Chet- 
woode hrincjs oranges for Mrs. Harding and 
Brockland. Brockland starts to eat. Mrs. 
Harding does not.) 

Mrs. H. I'm getting tired of oranges, Chetwoode. 
See if there isn't some grape fruit. 

Chet. Yes, madam. (Cherwoode exits) 

(Mrs. Harding's manner changes entirely. She is 
evidently at a very high tension.) 

^Irs. H. I can't stand it. In another moment I 
should have screamed. 

Brock. Steady, please. Steady. 

Mrs. H. I liaven't slept even a wink. All night 
I've seen him — lying dead — on the floor. 

Brock. They're sure to think it's suicide. 

Mrs. H. But, if they shouldn't. 

Brock. They will ! We're perfectly safe ! 

Mrs. H. I'm afraid — horribly ! 

Brock. We must carry it through just as we 
planned. I know it will work out right! We'll let 
everything be discovered naturally, and then — ! 
(Chetwoode returns zcith the grape fruit which he 
places before ^NIrs. Harding. Changing his tone) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 33 

Tlie victory was sweeping — overwhelming in fact. 
Even the Democratic papers admit it. 

(Mrs. Harding starts to eat. Brockland resumes 
eating.) 

Mrs. H. It means another Republican president, 
perhaps a change of tariff again. 

Brock. Oh, I hardly think so ! I understand there 
was quite a good deal of celebrating last night, Chet- 
woode. 

Chet. So I'm told, sir. 

Brock. Bonfires in the street — and shooting of 
pistols. 

(Mrs. Harding listens.) 

Chet. Yes, sir. 

Brock. Was there an}^thing like that about here? 

Chet. There was a bonfire two squares away, sir. 

Brock. But no shooting. 

Chet. No, sir — at least none that I heard, sir. 

Brock. (To Mrs. Harding) We have a regular 
bonfire day in England, you know. It's the fifth of 
November — Guy Hawkes' Day. 

Mrs. H. Celebrating the discovery of the Gun- 
powder Plot, isn't it? 

Brock. Yes ! All the children sing this the day 
before: 

" Bonfire day is a very happy day 

" If you don't give us a holiday we'll all run away." 

Jolly little beggars the school children. (Chet- 
woode ej^its) And if they — ! Chetwoode has now 
gone) You see. He was the only servant in the 
house and he heard nothing. 
Mrs. H. Bennie did though. 



34 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Brock. But you persuaded him he was dreaming. 

Mrs. H. I know ! And yet — Oh, something is 
sure to go wrong. I know it. 

Brock. Nothing will go wrong. First of all, in a 
casual way we'll arrange to send Chetwoode to your 
husb — to his — bedroom. Then we'll arrange it so 
that I — (Chetwoode returns with coffee, eggs and 
toast. Indicating his paper) May I ? — Just for a 
moment } 

Mrs. H. Certainly. 

(^M^hile Chetwoode is removing the fruit and placing 
the breakfast, Mrs Harding opens her mail and 
Brockland reads. They start to eat.) 

Brock. Here's another editorial about the Liberty 
Traction Company ! Goes for them in great style, too. 

Mrs. H. Yes-^ 

Brock. Mr. Harding was dictating his brief to 
me last night ! By the wa}'^, are you going to scold 
him for being late? 

Mrs. H. I think not. 

Brock. You know how cross he is if either of us 
is eyen a minute behind time. 

Mrs. H. It is rather late for him. Perhaps you'd 
better call him, Chetwoode. 

Chet. Very good, madam. (Chetwoode ejcits) 

(Mrs. Harding gives a sharp intake of breath, shoiv- 
ing the strain of her relief.) 

Brock. You must pull yourself together ! When 
Chetwoode reports that he isn't in his room you 
mustn't take it too seriously — he's been away at night 
before and Chetwoode knows it. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Brock. Well, when Chetwoode reports that, you 
say, quite casually, perhaps he spent the night at the 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 35 

Club;, and I'll suggest he may be in his study and I'll 
go to see. While I'm away you must behave natur- 
ally, quite naturally. But, when I come back and say 
that he is dead — (Mrs. Harding gives a little inar- 
ticulate cry) Steady, please! Steady! When I do, 
that is the time that you must watch yourself. You 
must be shocked, dreadfully, and want to go to Iiim, 
but I'll stop you and ! 

(Chetwoode re-enters.) 

Chet. Mr. Harding isn't in his room, madam. 

Mrs. H. No? 

Chet. No, madam. 

Brock. Perhaps he rose early and took his break- 
fast out 

Chet. His bed has not been slept in, sir. 

Mrs. H. Probably spent the night at the club. 

Brock. Most likely ! Or perhaps he's in the 
study ! When I left him last night he was still very 
busy. He may have worked quite late and then have 
lain down on the lounge and dropped off to sleep. 
Shall I go and see.'' 

Mrs. H. If it isn't too much trouble. 

Brock. No trouble at all. (Brockland exits 
briskly) 

(Mrs. Harding reads her mail. There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. Chetwoode! 

Chet. Yes, madam. 

Mrs. H. We shall have dinner for eight a week 
from Thursday. 

Chet. Eight a week from Thursday — yes, madam. 

Mrs. H. Remind the cook that she is to see me 
about the menu in ample time. 

Chet. I will, madam. 



36 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

(Mrs. Harding turns her attention to her hreahfast 
and her mail. There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. Did the servants enjoy the crowds last 
night ? 

Chet. Very much indeed, madam — particularly 
the second housemaid, madam. She's from Kilkenny 
— in Ireland, madam, and has only been here a 
month or two — and this is the first election she'd ever 
seen. 

Mrs. H. She must have liked it. 

Chet. She went crazy over it, as the saying is, 
madam. What she couldn't understand, though, was 
— why there was no fighting! 

Mrs. H. I see! 

(Brockland re-appears.) 

Brock. Mrs. Harding ! Mrs. Harding ! 

Mrs. H. Yes 

Brock. Your husband 

Mrs. H. Well? 

Brock. He's dead! 

Mrs. H. Dead? 

Brock. For hours ! 

Mrs. H. It isn't true — it can't be. 

Brock. It is. He shot himself through the heart. 

Mrs. H. Dead ! I must go to him — (She goes 
toward exit) 

Brock. No. 

Mrs. H. I must. 

Brock. It would do no good. 

Mrs. H. But. I must go 

Brock. Wait till the doctor comes— — - 

Chet. That would be best, madam. 

Mrs. H. No 

Brock. Please ! Dr. Whittridge can be here in 
just a few minutes. Wait for him. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 37 

Chet. Do, madam. 

Mrs. H. I'm going — — 

Brock. I won't let you 

Mrs. H. You won't? 

Brock. I won't] Your going would do no good — 
absolutely none — and it might do you a great deal of 
harm. 

Chet. He's right, madam. 

Brock. So you must wait till the doctor arrives 
and then be guided by him. I know I am right in 
this. Please do as I ask! Please 1 

Mrs. H. I — suppose that I must. 

Brock. Thank you ! Chetwoode! 

Chet. Yes, sir 

Brock. Leave Mrs. Harding with me, while you 
liave someone fetch Master Bennie from school and 
'phone Dr. Whittridge to come here immediately. 

Chet. Very good, sir. (Chetwoode exits) 

Brock. Something extraordinary — something un- 
believable — has happened. 

Mrs. H. What? 

Brock. I found him lying on the floor as we had 
left him — but the revolver teas in his hand! 

Mrs. H. Tn his hand? 

Brock. Yes. 

]\Irs. H. But you placed it on the floor. 

Brock. I know. 

IMrs. H. Tlien how could it get — how could — it's 
incredible — impossible ! 

Brock. That's what I thought! But, there it 
was! 

Mrs. H. But, how could it — how — perhaps he 
wasn't dead. 

Brock. Of course he was dead. 

Mrs. H. Perhaps he recovered consciousness " 

Brock. No! No! No! 

Mrs. H. Oh, that would be too terrible! 



38 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Brock. He was dead. I'd swear to it — abso- 
lutely swear to it 

Mrs. H. Then, how did that get into his hand! 
If he didn't take it — someone must liave put it 
there ! 

Brock. Yes. 

Mrs. H. Then someone must have been in that 
room — some one — knows. 

Brock. Yes. 

Mrs. H. But, who — who could it be? 

Brock. I can't imagine. 

Mrs. H. And what can he suspect? 

Brock. Whoever it was — and no matter what he 
suspects — he has proved he is friendly to us 

Mrs. H. How? 

Brock. He put the revolver in his hand. 

Mrs. H. Yes. That's true. But, who could it be? 
Who? 

Brock. All the servants were out but Chetwoode. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Brock. And the only others in the house were you 
and Bennie and myself. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Brock. It wasn't one of us and so — (Brock- 
land cfoes to exit and calls) Clietwoode ! Cliet- 
woode ! 

Chet. {Off) Yes sir. 

Brock. Come here. 

Chet. {Off) Yes sir. 

Brock. Quickly ! 

Chet. {Off) Very good, sir. (Chetwoode en- 
ters) Hurlburt has gone for Master Bennie, sir, and 
Doctor Whittridge is coming right over. 

Brock. Clietwoode, when were you last in Mr. 
Harding's study? 

Chet. Last night, sir. 

Brock. Why did you go there? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 39 

Chet. Mr. Harding rang for me to show Mr. 
Morton out, sir. 

Brock. And you haven't been there since then? 

Chet. No sir. 

Brock. Tell me the truth. Chetwoode. For God's 
sake — tell me the truth. 

Chet. I am telling you the truth, sir — why 
shouldn't 1? 

{There is a pause. The two men face each other.) 

Brock. That's all. 

(Brockland turns to Mrs. PL\rding. She, xcith her 
gesture, indicates her hopelessness and helpless- 
ness. Chetwoode looks at her for an instant, 
then his expression changes.) 

Chet. I didn't tell the truth, sir. 

Brock. Chetwoode 

Chet. I was up there later than that. 

Brock. Then you knew — all the time. 

Chet. Yes, sir. It was this way, sir. After I 
had let Mr. Morton out I went up on the next floor 
as Mr. Harding was in an awful temper, sir, and 
sliouting and I didn't know wliat might happen. 
After awhile I heard a shot, and a fall, and I rushed 
up to the study. When I got to the door I heard 
your voice, sir, and Mrs. Harding's and I knew then, 
that what I had expected hadn't happened, I knew 
it wasn't Mrs. Harding who was hurt. So I went 
quietl}' down stairs again, knowing that when I was 
wanted I'd be called. But I wasn't called sir! And 
after awhile I got very curious, yes sir, and anxious, 
so I went up to the next floor again, sir, and when 
you and Mrs. Harding had both gone to your rooms, I 
crept up and went into the study and then I found 
what I was looking for, as the saying is. I didn't 



40 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

know whether lie had done it himself, sir, or whether 
anybody else had done it and I didn't want to know. 
I liad heard Master Bennie's screams earlier in the 
evening and I knew if anybody ever deserved what, 
had happened to him he was the one, and I made up 
my mind if — anybody — but him had done it they 
shouldn't suffer for it if I could help it, sir, so I 
stoo])ed down and put the revolver in his hand. I'd 
agreed with myself not to say a Avord about it to 
anyone, sir, but when I saw Mrs. Harding's face just 
now I had to tell, and — well, sir — that's all, sir. And 
I'm very sorry if I've caused Mrs. Harding any 
trouble, sir. 

Brock. You've told no one.'' 

Chet. Not a word, sir. 

Brock. And — you're our friend? 

Chet. Yes sir. 

(There is a pause.) 

Brock. Chetwoode, Mr. Harding killed himself. 
You understand — he killed himself! 

Cket. Yes, sir. Of course, sir ! I only put the 
revolver in his hand to make it sure, sir 

Brock. Mrs. Harding is in deep trouble and it 
would be a great favor if you would continue to say 
nothing. 

Chet. Certainly I'll continue, sir. 

Brock. It would be a still greater favor if you 
would forget that you heard the shot — and the fall — 
and what you did afterwards. 

CiiET. I understand, sir. I heard nothing, I said 
nothing, I saw nothing. Last night I was deaf, dumb 
and blind. 

Brock. Exactly. 

Chet. Leave it to me, sir. 

Brock. You may be questioned. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 41 

Chet. They'll get out of me only what I want 
them to get. 

Brock. Closely questioned. 

Chet. The closer the better, sir. I'll know some- 
thing they want to find out. It'll be them against me. 
That brings a bit of a sporting element into it, sir, 
and that rather appeals to me 

{The door hell rings as though a flight down.) 

Brock. We can trust you. 

Chet. Yes, sir. You needn't worry about me, 
sir — nor you ^Sladam ! I'm with you, as the saying 
is. 

Mrs. H. Thank you, Chetwoode — from the bottom 
of my heart. 

Chet. Not at all. Madam. I think that was the 
bell I heard. Is there anything else, ISIadam? 

Mrs. H. No, Chetwoode. 

Chet. Yes, Madam. Thank you. Madam ! 
(Chetwoode exits) 

Mrs. H. He — knows 

Brock. Yes. 

]\Irs. H. He might betray us. 

Brock. He won't. 

Mrs. H. Accidentally. 

Brock. I don't think so ! He knew all the time 
even when we thought we were fooling him, and he 
didn't make a single false move. No, Mrs. Harding, 
I don't think we need worry about Chetwoode. 

(Chetwoode re-enters.) 

» 
Chet. It's Mr. Morton, Madam ! I told him about 
the — occurrence — -but he insists on seeing you and 
is waiting — in the reception room. 
Mrs. H. Bring him here. 
Chet. Yes, Madam. (Chetwoode exits) 



42 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Brock. Perhaps you would like to see Mr. Mor- 
ton alone. 

Mrs. H. For a few minutes. 

Brock. Certainly. 

Mrs. H. I don't know hoxv to thank you. 

Brock. Don't try. 

Mrs. H. Some day perhaps I shall be able 

Brock. Please. 

Mrs. H. Very well. But you know how I feel. 

Brock. If I might make a suggestion 

Mrs. H. Certainly. 

Brock. Don't tell any one. 

Mrs. H. Oh, I shan't. 

Brock. If we keep to our story — and let no one 
throw us off^ — we'll win. We're bound to. 

Mrs. H. I hope so. 

Brock. I know so. 

(Chetwoode appears.) 

Chet. Mr. Morton. 

t 

(Morton enters. Chetwoode exits.) 

Brock. How do you do, Mr. Morton. My name 
is Brockland. 

MoRT. Mr. Brockland. 

Brock. I was Mr. Harding's secretary and there 
are a thousand tilings for me to do. So you'll excuse 
me, won't you.^ Good-bye. (Brockland exits) 

MoRT. Dear! (He goes to Mrs. Harding) This 
must be terrible for you. (There is a pause. Mrs. 
Harding stands and looks out, almost as if he were 
not there) I can hardly realize it. Last night he 
was — alive — and strong — to-day he's dead — a suicide ! 
(There is a pause) When did you discover it? 
(There is a pause) Margaret! 

Mrs. H. What — what did you say? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 43 

]\IoRT. When did you learn about it? 

Mrs. H. This morning — Brockland. 

MoRT. Where ? 

Mrs. H. His study. 

MoRT. Shot himself, the butler said. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. God! (There is a pause) What a sliock 
it must have been for you. I'm so sorry, dear, I can't 
tell you how sorry! (There is a pause) You must 
be careful though. This, after last night, would 
prove a strain to a much stronger woman than you 
are ! And you rrrnsi be careful dear ! 

(Brockland enters icith Dr. Whittridge.) 

Brock. Here's Dr. Whittridge. 

Doctor. This is very sad, Mrs. Harding. Your 
husband was such a fine, strong man, the last in the 
world I would have imagined doing such a thing. But 
one never can tell. (There is a pause. To Brock- 
LANu) In the study you said. 

Brock. Yes. 

Mrs. H. Shall I come.? 

Doctor. No. It isn't at all necessary. 

Brock. This way. Doctor. 

(Brockland and Doctor ^xenvt. There is a pause ) 

MoRT. Now I think of it, I agree with the doctor. 
He was the last person in the world one would have 
imagined killing himself — Don't you think so? 

Mrs. H. I— don't know ! Why? 

MoRT. He was so — strong — so dominant. Last 
night he certainly gave no indication of doing such 
a thing. (There is a pause) Probably it was rage— 
a fit of his uncontrollable temper — a second or two 
of madness — and then— it was done ! Yes, I imagine 
that was the way! Don't vou, dear? 



44 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. Probably! 

MoRT. His temper was ungovernable. No one 
knows that better than you. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. And his ing;enuity ! His scheme for punish- 
ing you by keeping tlie boy here knowing you would 
stay then at all costs — that was devilish — diabolical ! 
(There is a pause) I was up all the night — thinking 
of you — of what your life would be here under those 
circumstances, of the publicity and scandal that 
would follow if we took the matter in our own hands 
— of the fact, that even if we did, so long as he re- 
fused to divorce you, we wouldn't be able to marry 
— no, nor even live together, without constant fear 
of persecution, even of prison — I thought of this, all 
the night and this morning I 'phoned to his office and 
when I found he hadn't arrived I came here ! I in- 
tended to see him, to make one more effort and if it 
failed 

Mrs. H. Well? 

MoRT, I hadn't made up my mind, the rest was 
vague — indefinite — But — {He sloidy takes a re- 
volver from his pocket) 

Mrs. H. Geoffrey! 

MoRT. And they told me, he was dead ! What an 
escape ! What an escape ! 

INIrs. H. Yes — what an escape ! 

(Brockland and Doctor re-enter.) 

Doctor. His aim was wonderfully true and death 
v/as instantaneous. There was neither pain nor 
suffering. 

(Mrs. Harding shotcs her relief.) 

Mrs. H. I'm glad. 

Doctor. You know you have my deepest sym- 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 45 

pathy. (Mrs. Harding nods) Now I'll notify the 
Captain. 

Mrs. H. The— Captain! 

Doctor. Yes ! 

Mrs. H. Why? You know how — it ! 

Doctor. Certainly ! But it's my duty — under 
such circumstances I am compelled to notify him. 

Mort. It's only a matter of form. 

Doctor. Exactly. 

Mrs. H. I see. 

Doctor. And now I'll 'phone him downstairs. If 
he can come immediately I'll wait for him, otherwise 
I have a very important consultation to attend. Ex- 
cuse me. 

(Doctor and Erockland ejceiint.) 

INIrs. H. The — coroner ! 

^Iort. He has to send for him dear ! It's the 
law ! But he won't trouble you. 

Mrs. H. He'll ask question's ? 

Mort. Only in a perfunctory wav. 

I\Irs. H. Of— me.? 

]MoRT. One or tM'o perhaps ! But as I said be- 
fore — merely as a matter of form ! ( There is a 
pause) This is dreadful for you, of course. (There 
is a pause. Mrs. Harding doesn't hear zchat is be- 
ing said) Still there'll be no libel suit, no divorce, 
no scandal, and a;fter a decent time we can be married. 
(There is a pause) I went nearly mad last night 
trA'ing to think of a possible way out but couldn't 
find one. The future held nothing but misery ! Be- 
tween us and happiness there was a barrier which 
couldn't be broken down ! And now, the impossible 
has happened. Without any help from either of us 
what we longed and hoped for has come. It's mirac- 
ulous ! Providential! Isn't it? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 



46 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

(Doctor re-enters.) 

Doctor. I'm sorry, but the Captain was not in. 
They said he was out on a very important case but 
that thej' would send him here just as soon as he 
returned. 

Mrs. H. We must — wait? ' 

Doctor. That's all we can do, I'm afraid. 

Mrs. H. How long? 

Doctor. It's uncertain. 

Mrs. H. Wait — indefinitely 

Mort. Margaret. Please ! 

Doctor. You mustn't give way, Mrs. Harding. 
I know how terrible it is for you but you must keep 
yourself in hand or I shall have yon to look after 
and we don't want that, do we? 

Mrs. H. I'll do my best. 

Doctor. You must, for all our sakes. 

(Bennie enters, accompanied by Hurlburt, Mrs. 
Harding's maid, who remains up stage.) 

Bennie. Oh, hello Uncle Geoffrey ! 

]\foRT. Hello, little man ! 

Bennie. Good morning. Doctor ! 

Doctor. Good morning, Bennie ! 

Bennie. Why am I brought home from school, 
mamma! (Mrs. Harding takes him in her arms) 
Is it a holiday or something? 

Mrs. H. You haven't told him? 

Maid. No, Madam. 

Bennie. Told me what, mamma? 

Mrs. H. Bennie 

Bennie. Yes, mamma ! 

Mrs. H. There's been — an accident — your papa 
is dead. 

Bennie. Papa! (Mrs. Harding nods) Dead? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 47 

(Mrs. Harding nods) TImt's why the doctor's here, 
isn't it. 

Doctor. Yes^ Bennie. 

Bennie. What kind of an accident was it? Did 
papa fall or something.^ 

Doctor. He was cleaning his revolver and it was 
discharged. 

Bennie. When.^ 

Doctor. We are not quite sure. 

Bennie. (To Mrs. Harding) Perhaps it was 
last night when I thought ! 

Mrs. H. No, dear, no ! You were dreaming — 
(^There is a pause) Aren't you sorry? 

Bennie. Yes, mamma! {There is a pause) 
You've been crying, haven't you? 

Mrs. H. Have L dear? 

Bennie. Yes, mamma ! Don't cry any more will 
you. I don't like it. 

(She takes his face in her hands. There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. No, dear, I won't cry any more. 
Bennie. You promise? 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. For i/our sake — I won't. 
Bennie. Thank you. 

]\Irs. H. And now you must go, sweetheart. (To 
AL\id) Hurlburt! 
IVL^iD. Yes, Madam. 

Mrs. H. Take care of Master Bennie, please. 
Maid. Yes, Madam. 
Bennie. (To Morton) Good-bye. 
>\IoRT. Good-bye, Bennie. 
Bennie. Good-bye, Doctor. 
Doctor. Good-bye ! 
Bennie. Good-bye, mamma ! 
Mrs. H. Good-bye, dear. 

Bennie. Do I have to go back to school to-day? 
Mrs. H. No, dear. 



48 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Bennie. Nor to-morrow? 

Mrs. H. No, dear. 

Bennie. AVhen.^ 

Mrs. H. Probably not till next week. 

Bennie. Next week? 

Mrs. H. YeSj dear. 

Bennie. Oh, goodie! (Mrs. Harding indicates: 
to ]\Iaid that she is to take Bennie. She takes his 
hand. He speaks as they go) Did you hear, I don't 
have to go to school till next week. 

Maid. No, Master Bennie. 

Bennie. I like that. 

(Bennie and Maid exeunt.) 

MoRT. I'm glad you promised not to cry any 
more. 

Doctor. So am I. Of course nothing could be 
more distressing, but no possible good can come of 
taking it too much to heart and you must try to con- 
trol 3^our nerves or, as I said before, I shall be hav- 
ing you on my hands. 

Mrs. H. I understand, 

(Chetwoode enters.) 

Chet. There are some policemen downstairs^ 
Madam. 

{There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. Police ! 
Chet. Yes, Madam! 

(Mrs. Harding tries to hide her emotion.) 

]\IoRT. What can they want? 
Doctor. Yes? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 49 

Chet. The Captain says they have news of the — 
accident. 

Doctor. Oh ! 

Mrs. H. The police! 

Doctor. I'm afraid you'll have to see them. 

Mrs. H. I can't. 

Doctor. You must. 

Mrs. H. I can't I tell you. I can't. 

Doctor. There's no other way. 

Mrs. H. Geoffrey — 

^NIort. The doctor's right. You must. {There is 
a pause. To Chetwoode) Have them come up. 
(Chetwoode exits. To Mrs. Harding) Again it's 
only a matter of form. A question or two and it will 
be all over. 

Doctor. Exactly ! He said " Captain " didn't 
he.? 

]\foRT. Yes. 

Doctor. I'm glad it wasn't the inspector. 

]\IoRT. A hard man? 

Doctor. Not exactly hard — skeptical. He takes 

nothing for granted and he can't be handled. 

t 

(Captain Pritchard and Brockland enter followed 
by the policemen, Burns and Taylor.) 

Capt. I'm Captain Pritchard. 

MoRT. My name is Morton. This is Mrs. Hard- 
ing. 

Capt. Ma'am. 

(Mrs. Harding bows.) 

Doctor. And I am Dr. "Whittridge. 

Capt. Doctor ! A few minutes ago I had to 'phone 
the coroner's office and they told me they had just 
received the news that Mr. Harding had been found 
dead with a bullet through his heart. 



50 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Doc,TOR. That is true. 
Capt. Who found the body? 
Brock. I did. 
Capt. Where ? 

Brock. In Mr. Harding's study. 
Capt. Is it still there? 
Brock. Yes. 

Capt. Where is the study? 
Brock. On the top floor. 
Doctor. I'll show you. 
Capt. Very well. 
Brock. Shall I come? 

Capt. It isn't necessary. (To Mrs. Harding) 
Excuse me. 

(Captain, Doctor, Burns and Taylor exeunt.) 

Mort. You see he didn't trouble you — and he 
won't. 

Brock. If anybody is going to be troubled, I'm 
the one. 

MoRT. You, why ? 

Brock. I was the last one to see Mr. Harding 
last night and was the first- one in the study this 
morning. If there should be any — mystery in the 
matter I am tlie one who must be connected with it. 

Mort. How could there be any mystery ? 

Brock. I don't know ! But did you see the way 
that Captain person looked at me — as much as to say 
— ■" I know there's something wrong here and you 
are the guilty one." 

Mort. I wish you wouldn't say such things. I 
know there's nothing in them of course but the 
nerves of all of us are on edge just now and par- 
ticularly Mrs. Harding's. 

Brock. I'm dreadfully sorry. I see now that my 
attempt at humor was not only doleful, but ill-timed. 
(To Mrs. Harding) Forgive me, won't you? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 51 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. (2'o Brockland) Just the same I wish 
you hadn't said it ! There's no possible mystery and 
nothing could be wrong. He killed himself. There's 
no question about it. Even a suggestion of anything 
else is preposterous. 

JSrock. 1 know it is, and I'm sorry I spoke. 

MoRT. If the Captain by any chance should get 
any such idea into his head, it might mean no end 
of trouble; not serious of course, but annoying and 
embarrassing. 

Brock. He won't get any such idea. 

MoRT. It would be particularly trying to ^Irs. 
Il&rding and tiiat's the very thing we wish to avoid. 

Brock. Indeed it is! Mrs. Harding knows that. 
Don't you.^ 

(I^ocTOR re-enters.) 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Brock. {To ^Morton) There'll be no trouble 
though so don't worry about it. 

}tIoRT. I'm not worrying I tell you. 

Doctor. {To I\Irs. Harding) I have done all 
that I can and the Captain excused me. {Pause) 
Let me express my deep sympathy and sincere con- 
dolence again. 

]Mrs. H. Thank you. Will tlie Captain want to 
see me? 

Doctor. There'll be a question or two perhaps — 
nothing important. I have asked him to spare you 
as much as possible and I know he'll do it, particu- 
larly, as after all, it's only a matter of form. Don't 
worry, Mrs. Harding, so far as the Captain is con- 
cerned everything is all right, in fact, it couldn't 
help being so. Good-bye. 

Mrs. H. Good-bye, Doctor. 

Doctor. Good dav, gentlemen. 



52 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

MoRT. Good day, sir. 
Brock. Good day, Doctor. 

(Doctor exits.) 

]\IoRT. (To Mrs. Harding) Thank heaven that 
Worry is off your mind. 

Brock. Of course it is. I told you how it would 
be. 

(Captain re-appears hurriedly followed by Burns.) 

Capt. Doctor! Doctor! (He is on stage) 
Where is Doctor Whittridge? 
Brock. He has just gone. 
Capt. (To Burns) Get him. 

(Burns exits quicMy.) 

Brock. Is anything wrong? 

Capt. That's what I want to find out. 

Brock. But how could there be.'' 

Capt. There are many ways. 

]\IoRT. I don't understand. 

Capt. Jt isn't necessary that you should. 

MoRT. This has been a terrible day for Mrs. 
Harding. Please don't put her to any more trouble 
than you absolutely have to. 

Capt, I won't, but there are certain things I've 
got to do. You understand, Mrs. Harding. 

Mrs. H. Certainly. You must do your duty. 

(Burns re-enters.) 

Burns. He's coming. I caught him before he got 
away. 

(Doctor re-enters.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 53 

Doctor. What is it? 

Capt. I must ask you to examine the body more 
closely. Notice particularly the direction of the 
wound and the absence of powder marks. 

Doctor. But really I — 

Capt. At once please ! And let me know the re- 
sult promptly. 

Doctor. Very well. 

(Doctor ej;its.) 

Capt. Continue the search of the room. 
Burns. Yes, Captain. 

(Burns exits.) 

MoRT. The question of powder marks? 

Brock. Continue the search of the room? 

MoRT. You talk as though there was a mystery 
here. 

Brock. Yes. As though there were some doubt 
as to whether Mr. Harding actually had killed him- 
self or not. 

(There is a pause.) 

1 
MoRT. You really have no doubt on the subject, 
have you? (There is a pause) He has! 
Brock. Absurd. 

MoRT. Of course! If Mr. Harding didn't commit 
suicide some one must have killed him and who could 
possihlif leant to do it. 

Capt. That is what I must try to find out. 

(There is a pause.) 

Brock. You really think there is a doubt? 
Capt. There's ahcays a doubt. 



54 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

INIoRT. Don't take that attitude ! Please don't be 
unreasonable. 

Capt. What? 

MoRT. I didn't mean to be offensive, really, I 
didn't. But if you understand it that way I apolo- 
gize. 

Capt. All right. 

?>IoRT. I know that your suspicions are wrong, 
that in fact, they're entirely without foundation, that 
in the end, everything is bound to come out absolutely 
as we have said. But in the meantime what of Mrs. 
Harding — {He points to her) Imagine her position, 
how she must feel, how trying it must be and she 
isn't very strong. 

Capt. I'm sorry. 

Mrs. H. Please don't trouble about me. Espe- 
cially as this gentleman is quite right. 

MoRT. Margaret ! 

Mrs. H. He is perfectly right. If he tiiinks 
there is anything in the deatli of my husband that 
isn't absolutely clear, it is his duty to get to tlie very 
bottom of the matter. 

Capt. Thank you, ma'am. 

Mrs. H. In fact I shall insist upon his doing it 
for my own sake. If there is any question, it m.ust 
be cleared up now — immediately ! Imagine Iiow I 
should feel in the future if there were any doubt on 
the subject. {To Captain) You understand, don't 
you } 

Capt. Perfectly. 

(Doctor re-enters.) 

Doctor. {To Captain) I must apologize. I 
was influenced by my surroundings, by my acquaint- 
ance with Mr. and Mrs. Harding and my previous 
examination was too superficial ! 

Capt. Well ? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 55 

Doctor. Tlie direction taken by the bullet makes 
it practically certain that the wound was not self- 
iniiicted — and tlie absence of jjowder-marks con- 
firms it. 

jNIort. Doctor ! 

Doctor. 1 realize the seriousness of what I am 
saying. 

(There is a pause.) 

MoRT. Isn't it possible that you might be wrong? 

Doctor. (Juite possible ! But the facts are sucli 
that an investigation must be made. The matter is 
now entirely in the hands of the Captain. 

(There is a pause.) 

Capt. When did you last see your husband alive, 
Mrs. Harding.^ 

Mrs. H. Last night. 

Capt. Did anj'^one see him alive after you? 

Mrs. H. Mr. Brockland, I believe. 

Brock. Yes. I was Mr. Harding's private sec- 
retary and v/e worked rather late. 

Capt. Who were in the house last night except 
>,rr. Brockland and yourself? 

Mrs. H. Only Chetwoode, tlie butler. 

Capt. The other servants? 

]Mrs. H. I had given them permission to be out. 

Capt. Do you know when they returned? 

Mrs. H. No. 

Capt. Thank you. I should now like to ask 
Mr. Brockland a few questions. 

Brock. Certainly. Only too happy I'm sure. 

Capt. How late did you work with Mr. Harding 
last night? 

Brock. I should say till eleven or so, perhaps 
later, I'm not quite sure. 



56 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Capt. When you left him did he say what he in- 
tended doing? 

Brock. He was engaged on a very important 
case and he told me he was going to spend some time 
getting authorities on the points involved. 

Capt. Then you knew he was going to remain in 
his study? 

Brock. Why — yes. 

Capt. What did you do when you left? 

Brock. Went to my room and then to bed. 

Capt. Where is your room? 

Brock. On the same floor as the study. 

Capt. On the same floor as the study? 

Brock. Yes. It adjoins it. 

Capt. And you went straight to bed? 

Brock. I did. 

Capt. And to sleep? 

Brock. Yes. 

Capt. Promptly? 

Brock. Yes indeed. If there is one thing I can 
do promptly it is sleep. 

Capt. Did you hear a shot? 

Brock. No, sir. 

Capt. Nor the fall as of a body? 

Brock. No. 

Capt. And you slept right through till morning 
undisturbed ? 

Brock. Exactly. 

Capt. You must be a good sleeper. 

Brock. Beg pardon! 

Capt. I say you must be a very good sleeper. 

Brock. If I could do anything else as well as I 
can sleep I'd do it for a living! 

Capt. Whether Mr. Harding killed himself or not 
a shot was fired last night in his study. You slept 
in a room adjoining it. Don't you think it remarkable 
that you didn't hear the shot? 

Brock. Not in the least. There are several re- 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 57 

markable things about my sleeping but that isn't 
one ! The remarkable thing would have been if I 
had heard it. You don't know what a sleeper I am 
— really you don't. 

Capt. What time did you awake.'' 

Brock. Half-past seven. 

Capt. How did you know it was half-past seven? 

Brock. I always awake at half-past seven ! That 
is one of the remarkable things about my sleeping. 
No matter what time I go to bed I always awake at 
half-past seven. How do you account for it? 

Capt. I don't try to account for it. 

Brock. I try ! And there's only one way I can 
do it. I think I must have been marked with it. 

Capt. You seem to be taking this matter very 
lightly, young man. 

Brock. Indeed I'm not. 

Capt. You don't seem to realize that it's a very 
serious proposition — one likely to involve you in a 
most awkward predicament. 

Brock. Involve me? 

Capt. Yes — you ! You haven't spoken the truth. 
You haven't told what you know. 

Brock. But I have. 

Capt. You have not. You have hidden things. I 
believe you know how Mr. Harding met his death. 
Yes and I believe that you're mixed up in it. 

Mrs. H. That isn't true. 

Capt. If you please! (To Brockland) How 
did you get that bruise? 

Brock. I had a fight with a taxi-driver. 

Capt. When? 

Brock. About four o'clock yesterday afternoon. 

Capt. What about? 

Brock. My fare. 

Capt. Where did you fight? 

Brock. On the street. 



58 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Capt. What street — (Slight pause) What street? 

Brock. I think it was Park. 

Capt. Park and what.^ 

Brock. Lincoln ! 

Capt. Where were you going .^ 

Brock. To see a friend. 

Capt. Wliat friend.'' (Slight pause) What 
friend .'' 

Brock. His name is Cleveland. 

Capt. What's his first name.^ 

Brock. Arthur. 

Capt. Wliere does he live.^ 

Brock. I tliink it is Lincoln and Brook. 

Capt. Tlien why did you stop at Park? 

Brock. It wasn't Park — I told you I wasn't quite 
sure and I remember now — it was Brook. 

Capt. Then your friend lives at Lincoln and 
Brook. 

Brock. Yes. 

Capt. In a liouse or an apartment? 

Brock. An apartment. 

Capt. What's the name of the building? 

Brock. I don't remember. 

Capt. But you were going to call on your friend, 
Arthur Cleveland, who lives in an apartment at Lin- 
coln and Brook? 

Brock. Yes. 

Capt. That's something definite anyway. 

Doctor. ]\Ir. Brockland isn't telling the truth. 

Capt. How do you know? 

Doctor. Because last night at about ten o'clock I 
was hurriedly called here to attend him. I found 
that he had hurt the first two fingers of his right hand 
and had a bruise beginning to come on his cheek. He 
told me he had just met with an accident. That, in 
fact, he had tripped and fallen downstairs. 

{^There is a pause.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 59 

Capt. Well? (Pause) WelU— (Pause) So you 
Avere lying! (Pause. To Doctor) At about ten 
o'clock, you said? 

Doctor. Yes. 

Capt. Then, lie couldn't have worked till tv/elve 
with Mr. Harding? 

Doctor. No. 

Capt. So he lied about that, too. Young man, 
you had better tell me the truth — the whole truth ! 
{There is a pazise) Very well! Doctor 

Doctor. Yes. (Doctor goes to Captain) 

Capt. In my opinion — it's this wa^/ — (Apari to 
Doctor) Some one is listening at that door. When 
I give the signal o]:>en it quickly. (Aloud) Do you 
agree with me ? 

Doctor. Perfectly. (Doctor e/oes qniefli/ to- 
icard door) 

Capt. The doctor agrees witli me that you met 
witji no accident, that you probably had a quarrel 
ini your employer who struck you and knocked you 
down — Is that true, or isn't it ? 

Brock. It isn't. I fell just as I told the doctor. 

Capt. Then, why lie about it to me? What is 
your explanation of that? (Pause) Well? (Pause) 
^^ery good. Mr. Brockland, you are under arrest! 

(There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. No, no ! 

Capt. He is under arrest. 

Mrs. H. But, he — he 

Capt. This is my affair ! Until the tiine that he 
can explain — (He gives the signal to the Doctor 
tcho opens the door qui'ckli/) why he lied to me ! 

(CiiETWOODK enters quietli/ icith some plates TchieJi he 
takes to sideboard. Then he starts toicard the 
exit again.) 



60 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Just a minute. 

Chet. Me, sir? 

Capt. You ! Why were you listening at that door ? 

Chet. I wasn't listening, sir. Why should I 
listen ? 

Capt. That's just wliat I'd like to know. 

Chet. So should I, sir. Butlers don't descend to 
such things in the families I hav^e served in, sir. 

Capt. So you're the butler.'' 

Chet. Yes sir. 

Capt. I am told that j^ou were the only servant in 
the house last night? 

Chet. From after dinner till midnight, or perhaps 
a little later, yes, sir. 

Capt. Then you answered the bell and admitted 
all visitors during that time? 

Chet. I did sir — that is if there rcere any, sir. 

Capt. Wouldn't you remember if there were? 

Chet. I might and I might not, sir. It all de- 
pends. 

Capt. I see. Your memory is bad! 

Chet. I shouldn't say it was bad, sir — I should 
say it was — intermittent ! It comes and goes, as the 
saying is. 

Capt. You had one visitor anyway. The doctor 
says he was called here. Do you remember that? 

Chet. Perfectly, sir. I didn't know you referred 
to professional callers, sir. 

Capt. You admitted the doctor? 

Chet. Yes sir. 

Capt. To whose room did you show him? 

Chet. IMr. Brockland's, sir. 

Capt. MHiy did the doctor go to i\Ir. Brockland's 
room ? 

Chet. I haven't any idea, sir. 

Capt. Then you don't know that there had been 
trouble between Mr. Harding and Mr. Brockland? 

Chet. No, sir, I don't. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 61 

Capt. Then let me tell you that Mr. Brockland 
lias testified that he and Mr. Harding had a violent 
quarrel, and then a desperate fight. What do you 
say to that? 

Chet. I should say, sir, that I'm sorry I wasn't 
present. I have a slight sporting tendency, you 
see 

Capt. Tlien you know nothing whatever about 
this trouble between Mr. Harding and Mr. Brock- 
land.? 

Chet. Nothing at all, sir. 

Capt. Did you admit anyone besides the doctor? 

Chet. Not that I remember, sir. 

MoRT. Just a minute, please. 

Capt. Your turn will come, sir. 

MoRT. But, I should like to say that I ^! 

Capt. You will be given every opportunity. 

INIoRT. Very well. 

Capt. When did you last see Mr. Harding alive? 

Chet. About half-past ten last night, sir. 

Capt. You didn't like Mr. Harding, did you? 

Chet. Well — I wasn't exactly — enamored — of 
him, sir. 

Capt. And you could liave gone to his study after 
Mr. Brockland had left? 

Chet. Easily, sir. 

Capt. Are you sure that you didn't? 

Chet. Quite sure, sir. 

Capt. We'll see about that. 

Chet. Yes sir. Thank you. sir. 

- (Burns enters hiirriedli/.) 

Capt. We'll also see about several other things. 
We'll 

Burns. This seems important, Cajitain. (He 
hands the retraction brought by Morton in Act L 
The Captain reads it hurriedly) 



62 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 



Capt. Where did you find it? 
Burns. In the wastepaper basket. 
Capt. (To Brockland) Wliat do you know about 
this? 

Brock. Nothing at all. 
Capt. Oh, you don't? 
Brock. No, sir, I don't. 
jMop.t. I know all about it. 

You? 

Yes. I wrote it. 

You did ? 

I did. 

When did Mr. Harding receive it? 

Last night. 

How? 

I brought it to him. 

You were here last niglit? 

I was. 

And you brought this for Mr. Harding to 



Capt. 
Mort. 
Capt. 
Mort. 
Capt. 
Mort. 
Capt. 
Mort. 
Capt. 
Mort. 
Capt. 
sign ? 
Mort. 
Capt. 
Mort. 
Capt. 



I did. 

And he refused to sign it ? 
Yes. 

I need hardly tell you wliat this points to, 
Mr. Morton. 

Mort. You don't really imagine that I — {The 
'phone rings) had anything to do with the death of 
Mr. Harding? 

Capt. (To Burns) Answer it! 



(Burns goes to 'phone.) 
Mrs. H. That's impossible. 



(Burns talks at 'phone during the follotving dialogue. 
He says " hello — hello " — " xvhat " — " just a 
mimite " — " I can't hear you," etc.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 63 

MoRT. Of course it is. 

Brock. I'd swear to that. 

Capt. Quiet, please. 

MoRT. When I left Mr. Harding he was alive and 
well. 

Mrs. H. Certainly. It's incredible that anyone 
could imagine 

Capt. Quiet, I tell you ! Quiet ! 

(^There is a pause.) 

Burns. {At 'phone) Who? Who do you want — 
(Pause) It's for you, Captain. 

Capt. (At 'phone) Well, who is it? (Pause) 
Oh, is that you. Inspector? (Pause) Yes. that's 
right. (Pause) Killed by a shot. (Pause) Tliere's 
something mysterious about it. (Pause) I think two 
men who are here now know more than they want to 
tell and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them was 
mixed up in it. (Pause) Very well. Inspector! 
(Pause) Yes, I understand. Good-bye. (Captain 
replaces 'phone) 

Mrs. H. I swear to you, Captain, that neither of 
these gentlemen had anything to do with the death of 
my husband. I swear it. 

Capt. You'll have to tell that to Inspector Coch- 
rane, ma'am. He's going to take charge of this case 
himself. (There is a pause. To Burns) See that 
no one leaves the house. 

Burns. Yes, Captain. (Burns eo'its. There is a 
pause) 

CURTAIN. 



ak THE LAW OF THE LAND. 



ACT HI. 

Scene: The place is Mrs. Harding's room. 

Time: Some minutes later than Act II. 

Mrs. Harding is alone, evidently in great agita- 
tion. 

There is a pause. 
Hurlburt enters. 

Hurl. Mr. Morton is coming right np, ^Nladam. 
]Mrs. H. Very well. 

Hurl. Isn't there anything else I can do^, Madam? 
Mrs. H. No. 

Hurl. Anything I can get for you, Madam? 
Mrs. H. Nothing. 

]\Irs. H. Nothing. (There is a pause. A knock is 
heard) Come ! 

(Morton enters.) 

MoRT. Your maid says you want to see me. 

Mrs. H. Yes! That's all, Hurlburt. 

Hurl. Yes, Madam. (Hurlburt exits) 

MoRT. Dear! Dear! (Morton takes her in his 
arms. There is a pause) I'm so sorry you're in this 
trouble — It's absolutely unnecessary, too, and that 
makes it all the more dreadful for you. 

Mrs. H. And for you. 

MoRT. For me? 

Mrs. H. They suspect you. 

MoRT. Don't let that trouble you, dear. I can 
easily clear myself. You saw me leave, and Chet- 
woode showed me to the door while Harding was still 
alive. That settles that! (There is a pause) Oh, 
why did that Captain interfere and muddle the matter 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 



65 



up! Things were going splendidly for us, and his 
whole theory is so preposterous. Harding killed him- 
self, of course he did! 

Mrs. H. That is what I wished to speak to you 
about! (Pause) He didn't kill himself. 
MoRT. Margaret ! 
Mrs. H. / killed him. 
MoRT. You .'' 
.AIrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. You don't realize what you're saying. 
Mrs. H. Oh, yes, I do! After you had gone— he 

was so terrible — I couldn't stand it any longer I 

just couldn't stand it — and I took the revolver from 
the drawer and — I shot him ! ' 
AIoRT. Margaret ! Margaret ! 
Mrs. H. I did. 
MoRT. God ! 

Mrs. H. You can't steal what we call happiness — 
without being punished for it— If women would only 
learn that! And I haven't had much happiness. 
Only you and the boy — and that was stolen — and 
what a price I've had to pay for it. What a price ! 
MoRT. I know, dear. 
Mrs. H. You don't ! No one knoM^s but me ! Oh, 

the horror of these last five years — five years here 

with him — while lie — knew that I loved you! The 
horror of them! The unspeakable horror! ' (There is 
a pause) The sneers! The humiliations! The in- 
sults that I couldn't resent! He would give a dinner 
and parade me before the guests — praise me as the 
model of all a loving wife should be — pat me and ca- 
ress me in the affectionate husband's usual proprie- 
tary manner — and when the guests had gone — and we 
were alone — he'd laugh about it — and jeer at me — and 
call me all the tilings his vile mind could think of. 
]\IoRT. Why didn't you let me know. 
Mrs. H. What good would it have done. Besides 
— I didn't xcant you to know ! And so — I bore it all ! 



66 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

And two days ago you came back — and last night we 
met — all three of us — and he found out the thing we 
didn't want him to find — and he planned his revenge. 

]MoRT. Yes. to still keep you here. 

Mrs. H. No. That was only a pretense ! He told 
me what his real revenge was to be, after you had 
gone. 

MoRT. What ? 

Mrs. H. He was going to sue for a separation — 
not a divorce — He said he would make our names a 
by-word — Bennie's and mine — and tliat even then — 
things couldn't be changed for us ! And wdien he 
found — even tJiat didn't hurt me — he made up his 
mind he would hurt me — but he didn't know how to 
do it — till he saw — the whip again 

Mort. Again ! 

Mrs. H. Yes. And he picked it up — and said 
what he was going to do — that lie was going to hurt 
me through Bennie — and I begged him not to — and lie 
laughed at me — and told me how he was going to 
beat him — and I got the revolver and said, " Put 
that down or I'll shoot " but he didn't believe me and 
said, " You won't " and I said, " I will, I tell you I 
will ", but he only laughed and went toward the door 
— and I shot — and he crumpled up — and fell — dead 
— and I'd killed him! 

(There is a pause.) 

Mort. He deserved it. 

Mrs. H. Then Mr. Brockland came in 

Mort. Brockland ! 

Mrs. H. Yes — and we agreed to make it appear 
as though — it were — suicide ! And it looked as if 
we could — till the coroner came — but now — we can't ! 

Mort. We must. 

Mrs. H. We can't ! They already suspect — part 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 67 

of the truth — and the police are coming. And tliey'll 
question me. 

MoRT. You can answer them. 

Mrs. H. I should make a slip somewhere — some 
little slip — and that Inspector would pounce on it — 
and drag tlie truth out of me — bit by bit — and it 
would only be torture — and useless — so — Lm going 
to tell them ! 

^foRT. Tell them — that vou } 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. No. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. But, Margaret 

^Irs. H. I've made a ghastly mess of my life — 
anyway — and — the rest — can't matter. 

MoRT. You shan't do it. 

Mrs. H. If I don't — they'll find it — out — just the 
same — so I'm going to tell — every tiling. 

MoRT. I won't let you. 

Mrs. H. I've been bruised — and hurt — so much — 
that I have no heart — no strength — no feeling — left. 
Something in me is dead — I'm numb — I'm beaten. 
They can do anything they please with me now. 

MoRT. You poor little woman. {He takes her in 
his arms. There is a pause) But. you needn't give 
up, dear. The fight — the real fight — has only just 
begun. 

Mrs. H. I can't fight any more 

MoRT. I>isten, dear! You've got to fight — for the 
sake of — everyone ! 

Mrs. H. You mean? 

MoRT. If you confess the entire truth — everything 
— the jury would either acquit yOu or disagree. No 
twelve men in this country would unanimously con- 
demn a woman who did what she thought was right 
to protect her child — especially under the circum- 
stances 3'ou would relate. In the end you would be 
free. That's certain. 



68 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. Free? 

MoRT. Yes ! 

INIrs. H. I sliould be free. 

MoRT. Yovi would. 

Mrs. H. Free! 

IMoRT. But Avhat of the boy? 

Mrs. H. Bennie? 

Mort. Bennie ! Don't you realize what it would 
mean for him? The very thing you've been fighting 
and suffering all these years to hide would be made 
public. All the world would know ! Don't you see, 
dear? 

Mrs. H. Yes! Of course. I'd forgotten tliat. 

^Iort. And so you can't tell. You see that, too, 
don't you? 

Mrs. H. Yes! (Pause) But I must confess that 
I did it. I must do that. 

jNIort. And, what reason will you give? 

Mrs. H. Reason? 

Mort. A woman doesn't shoot her husband with- 
out a reason. 

jNIrs. H. I'll say we quarrelled. 

iMoRT. About what? (Pause) It must be a very 
cruel wrong to justifv the killing of a man. (Pause) 
Well, dear? 

Mrs. H. I won't give any reason. I'll say we 
quarrelled and I did it. They can't make me give a 

reason unless I wish to 

Mort. And, then, you will either go to prison for 
life or be sent to the asylum for the criminally in- 
sane. (There is a pause) Well? 

Mrs. H. I don't care where they send me if I can 
only protect him.. I would have come to you long 
ago if it hadn't been for that. 
Mort. I know it, dear. 

Mrs. H. But they'll find out I did it 

^Iort. They shan't. 

Mrs. H. Thev're sure to find it out. But I won't 



THE LAA\' OF THE LAND. 69 

tell anything that will involve him. Thev can send 
me to prison — or the asylum — or anywhere thev 
please. I can bear it. It can't be worse than I have 
already endured. 

MoRx. And, when they do send you there, how will 
that reflect on the boy .^ (There is a pause) How do 
you imagine it will effect him to think that his mother 
killed his father in a vulgar quarrel for which she 
can't even give an excuse. 
Mrs. H. Don't. 

MoRT. Imagine liim going through life thinking 
that—knowing that his mother is either in jail or a 
madhouse — imagining, perhaps, that some criminal or 
insane taint in you has been passed on to him— and 

that 

Mrs. H. Don't! Don't! Oh, whv do you sav 
such things. Why! Wliy ! Why! 

MoRT. Because you must be brought to realize 
your position. Because I must, at all costs, make you 
understand. 

Mrs. H. Well, you've done it. I see everything 
quite clearly now. Whichever course I take — he must 
suffer ! In spite of my love I must be his worst enemy 
— no matter what I do I must destroy him ! In spite 
of everything I liave done — in spite even of myself — I 
must do it. Oh, My God! what a position to be in. 
And, I can do nothing. I can't even think any more. 
Oh, lielp me, Geoffrey ! Help me ! 

MoRT. Yes, dear. That's just what I intend to do. 
Mrs. H. How.? (Pause) Oh, don't be afraid to 
tell me — I'll do anything in the world that you ask. 

MoRT. You've done all you should, dear — you've 
already borne more tlian your share. It's my turn 
now. 

]Mrs. H. Yours? 
MoRT. Yes. 
Mrs. H. How? 



70 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

MoRT. They already feel sure that Harding didn't 
shoot himself. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. At first they suspected Brockland, but that 
soon passed and suspicion pointed quickly to me. 
, Mrs. H. Well? 

MoRT. At this moment the Captain is convinced 
that if anyone killed Harding I am the one. That is 
the impression he will give the Inspector when he ar- 
rives. I shall do all I can to confirm it. 

Mrs. H. Geoffrey. 

MoRT. I shall do everything possible to make them 
think I killed Harding, and I feel sure that I shall 
succeed. 

Mrs. H. You'll — you'll — You slian't do it. 

MoRT. I shall. 

Mrs. H. No. 

Mort. Yes. 

Mrs. H. No. 

Mort. Yes^ I tell vou. Yes. 

Mrs. H. But, Geoffrey ! 

Mort. I shall. It's the only way. 

{There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. (Quietly) You'll— you'll — — 

Mort. Yes! And why not? It's fair — it's 



just 

Mrs. H. It isn't. 

Mort. It is. 

Mrs. H. But, Geoffrey 

Mort. It's settled. I shall do it. (There is a 
pause) After all: I am the one who is guilty. If I 
hadn't loved you and made you care for me, you 
wouldn't have had to do what you did. Traced back 
to its source the fault for everything is mine, — so is 
the responsibility. 



THE LAW OF THP: LAND. 71 

Mrs. H. I won't let you do it. I won't, do vou 
hear me. I won't. 

MoRT. You must. 

Mrs. H. I say I won't. 

yionr. And I say tiiat you must. 

Mrs. H. Let you— let— ! Never ! Never ! I did 
it and I'm the only one wlio must pay. 

MoRT. You can't be the only one! I've explaincil 
all that. If you pay Bennie pays ! Yes, even more 
than you do. It's inevitable. 

Mrs. H. Oh, my God! 

(There is a pause.) 

:\IoRT. Tliey already suspect me. They know 
I came here last night and they know I did it intend- 
ing to force Harding to retract the accusations he Jiad 
made against me wliile I was abroad. He refused, 
we quarrelled, and I shot him. It's obvious. The 
murder will be fastened on me, and neither Bennie nor 
you will be brought into it in any way. 

Mrs. H. No!^ No! 

MoRT. It is the only way to save him. You must 
choose between liim and me. 

Mrs. H. I must choose betv>een liim and 

MoRT. Yes. 

Mrs. H. I — I must — I won't! I can't! It isn't 
fair. You know it isn't fair. 

MoRT. I tell you 

Mrs. H. What have I done that I should be pun- 
ished like this? All my life I've done nothing but 
suffer, all my life! And now I must send the man I 
love to his death or else my boy — ! I won't do it! 
I can't do it! It isn't fair that I should be tried like 
this. It i.sn't fair. It isn't fair. 

MoRT. Listen, dear. Whether you want to or not, 
you will have to choose one or the other, and there is 
no question as. to which it must be. 



72 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. I'll never do it. Never. 

]\IoRT. You'll liave to do it, and do it quickl}'-.. 
The police may arrive at any minute, and soon after 
they come they will send for me. When they ques- 
tion me I shall answer in a way that will make them 
think I have something to hide; I shall hedge and 
prevaricate; I shall contradict myself and get en- 
tangled; bit by bit I shall let them drag from me my 
story as to how I killed him and they will put me 
under arrest — then vou will have to choose. 

Mrs. H. No! No! 

]\IoRT. Yes J dear. You will have, to choose then. 
There is no possible way of escape_. {There is a 
pause) You know I'm right, dear. My position is 
unassailable. AVhat possible argument can you bring 
against it.'* 

Mrs. H. This — I won't let you suljt'er for what I 
have done ! The innocent shan't pay for my sin. 

MoRT. Isn't Bennie innocent? 

Mrs. H. Yes, and yet — Oh, I've got to choose. T 
know it. I've known it from the beginning. I've only 
been fighting uselessly just as I've fought against the 
inevitable all my life! I must choose between him 
and you. Well, I've done it. I choose you. 

^loRT. Me ? 

Mrs. H. You! You shan't be disgraced, impris- 
oned, perhaps killed for what I have done. 

]Mort. And Bennie, what of him? 

INIrs. H. He must suffer with me. 

INIoRT. Margaret. 

Mrs. H. I'd give my life to save him from it, but 
it seems that even my life isn't enough. I've done 
the best I could for him — and failed. It's fate. 
That's all. I've fought the best fight that I knew, but 
fate is stronger than I am. And now — I surrender. 

(There is a pause.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 73 

MoRT. Well, I don't— and you shan't! (Pause) 
Margaret, it has got to be as I have said. 

Mrs. H. No, dear. 

MoRT, It has got to be, do you hear — it has c/ot 
to be. (There is a pause) Remember, I have some 
rights in this matter. He is mv son as well as vours 

Mrs. H. Geoffrey! 

MoRT. He belongs to me just as much as he be- 
longs to you, and no one shall spoil his life while I 
can help it. (There is a pause) A mother's love is 
a wonderful thing, but a father can love too. You've 
had him with you; you could play with him, and teach 
him and caress him; he's been yours — but, although, 
he belonged to me, he has never been mine! (There 
is a pause) And how I have yearned for him. How 
hungry my heart has been ! How I have envied you— 
yes, and all the fathers and mothers in the world. 
(There is a pause) And I've been away for five 
years — without a word — and I didn't know whether 
he was alive or dead! I thought, though — I felt sure 
— that- if anything had happened you would have let 
me know. And so I used to think of him, going to 
school and playing in the daytime ; and here with you, 
sitting at your knee, and then saying his prayers at 
night! All this was refused me, every privilege of 
fatherhood was denied me; but, it shan't be denied me 
any longer. I now put in my claim on my son, and 
as I have had no privileges before I now demand the 
biggest one of all — the right of a father to sacrifice 
himself for his child. You've had nine years of sacri- 
fice, of suffering, of torture, the balance between us is 
all in your favor, but now is my chance to even the 
scale, and I won't lose it. He is my son, my own 
flesh and blood, and I won't let anyone, not even you, 
come between me and my right to save him! (There 
is a pause) It is my right, and you know it! Well — 
I demand it. 

Mrs. H. Have you also the right to sacrifice me? 



74 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

MoRT. You? 

Mrs. H. Me. Suppose I agree — and let you do 
this — what of me ! You — disgraced and in prison — 
your career ruined — suffering for what I have done — 
what do you think my life would be.^ {There is a 
pause) I can't let you do it, Geoffrey ! I love you 
too much. 

MoRT. But, dear, I 

Mrs. H. The memory of our love has been the one 
beautiful thing in my life, and always there has been 
the hope that some time — and in some way — we 
should be able to acknowledge it openly and without 
sliame. That's impossible, now. It's gone. But, my 
love remains. And if you do this it will kill me. I 
shall die. I know I shall. I shall die ! 

MoRT. But, listen, dear, I 

Mrs. H. It's no use. You shan't do it. I won't 
let you. I'd rather 

(Bennie enter,':. He is eating a piece of cake. Mrs. 
Harding gasps.) 

Ben. There's another policeman downstairs, 
mamma. What does he want.^ 

{There is a pause. Morton points to the child and 
then to himself, as if saying " There is the 
choice." There is a pause. Mrs. Harding 
turns away.) 

MoRT. Another policeman, Bennie? 
Ben. What does he want? 
MoRT. I'm not quite sure. 

Ben. 'I wish I knew. I used to think I'd be a 
policeman when I grew up. 

MoRT. Did you? Come and tell me about it. 

(Morton takes Bennie on his knee, looks at him 
lovingly, then kisses him.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 75 

Ben. What's that for.^ 
MoRT. I like you very mucli. 

Ben. Why.? Haven't you any little boy of your 
own? (Pause) Haven't you.? 
MoRT. No, dear. 

Ben. Didn't you ever have one.? (Pause) 
Didn't you.? 

MoRT. Once. 

Ben. Where is he.? 

MoRT. I — I lost him. 

Ben. And won't you ever find liim attain ? 

INIoRT. I'm afraid not. 

Ben. Mamma, Uncle Geoffrey has lost liis little 
boy and won't ever be able to find him again. (Mrs. 
Harding turns aicmji) I hope mamma'Tl never lose 
me. 

MoRT. So do I, dear! So do I. {Pause) l\nA she 
won't. I know it. 
.J Ben. I'm glad. 

(Therf.is a pause.) 

MoRT. And so you used to want to be a policeman.? 

Ben. Ye,s. Arid before tliat an engine driver on 
a traiUj but I was very little then. 

MoRT. And now you're a big boy, aren't you? 

Ben. Well — not so very — but I'm bigger tlian I 
was. 

MoRT. And some day you'll be a man, a big, 
strong man. 

Ben. Like you. Tliat's what mamma wants me 
to be. She's told me so lots and lots of times. 

MoRT. A man like me ! 

Ben. Yes, and build tunnels and bridges and 
things, and be brave and true! You are brave and 
true, aren't you.? Mamma says you are. 

MoRT. Whether I am or not I'm going to try to 
be — riglit to the end. 



76 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ben. The end of what? 

MoRT. Of everything. 

Ben. Of course. That's the only way to be, isn't 
it, mamma? 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Ben. That's the way I'm going to be. 

MoRT. I'm glad to hear it — very glad — it will be 
such a comfort to your mother. And she's going to 
need your comfort — and your help — and need them 
very much. She'll be all alone in the world except 
for you. 

Ben. Will you, mamma? 

[There is a pause. ^ 

MoRT. She will, dear, and it's very hard for a 
woman to be alone. So you must be good to her — 
and kind — and do everything you can to make her 
happy. And when the temptation comes to do things 
that are wrong, or mean, remember that if you do 
them, you are going to hurt her. And you wouldn't 
want to do that, would you? 

Ben. No. 

MoRT. Of course you wouldn't. So you'll be kind 
to her and help her, won't you? Help her in every 
way that you can? 

Ben. Yes. 

MoRT. Good. And she's going to help you — a 
great deal — more than you'll ever understand. {To 
Mrs. Harding) Aren't you? 

[There is a pause.) 
Ben. Are you, mamma? 

(There is a pause.) 
Mort. Make her promise. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 77 

Ben. Do you promise.? (Pause) Do you.? 

(There is a pause. A knock is heard on the door. 
There is a pause.) 

MoRT. Well— (The knock is repeated) Do you 
promise ? 

(There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. Yes, I promise! I promise! 
Ben. Goodie — I knew you would. 

(Morton goes to door and opens it. Chetvvoode 
enters.) 

CiiET. Inspector Cochrane has arrived, sir, and 
says he will probably want to see you in a few min- 
utes, sir. 

MoRT. Tell the Inspector I shall be ready when- 
ever he wishes. 

Chet. Yes sir. (Chetwoode exits) 
Ben. Oh, the policeman wants to see vou, doesn't 
he. What for.? 

Mort. Just to have a little talk with me. That's 
all. 

Ben. Oh ! 

MoRT. (To Mrs. H.-vrding) Good-bye. 

Mrs. H. I can't let you do it. 

Mort. You must. 

Mrs. H. I can't, I tell you. It will kill me. 

Mort. You must. Good-bye. (Morton goes 
toward exit. He picks Bennie up in his arms) 
Good-bye, dear. Good-bye. (Morton exits quickly) 

Mrs. H. Geoffrey! Geoffrey! 

(The door slams. Mrs. Harding starts toward the 
door with an uncontrollable desire to call him 



78 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

bach. Then seeing the boy she kneels beside 
him, takes him in her arms and bursts into an 
agony of tears.) 

CURTAIN. 



ACT IV. 



Scene: The scene is the same as in Act I. 

Time: A few minutes later than Act III. 

When the curtain rises there is no one on the 
stage. 

There is a short pause. 

Captain enters, followed by Inspector Coch- 
rane and Burns and Taylor. 

Capt. This is the room, Inspector. 

(Inspector looks abo?tt the room.) 

Ins. Where was the body.'' 

Capt. Here. (The Captain indicates) The 
head was there and the feet — there. (Captain de- 
scribes the position in which Harding falls in Act I) 

Ins. Were there any signs o£ a struggle? 

Capt. The room was just as you see it now. 

Ins. And the revolver was in his hand.'' 

Capt. Yes. 

Ins. And yet you don't think it was suicide? 

Capt. I have my doubts. 

Ins. Well, if he didn't kill himself, somebody 
must have shot him and then put the gun in liis hand 
to make it appear like suicide. 

Capt. It looks that way. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 79 



Ins. Harding was a fine lawyer — a big man- 
Capt. Not any bigger than Morton. 
Ixs. You think he did it, don't you.'' 



Capt. Well, if it comes to that — ^yes, I do — He 
admits he was here last night and saw Harding and — 
there's the motive. {He indicates the retraction) 

Ins. That's so. 

Capt. I feel sure that secretary knows something 
about it — I caught him lying as I told you 

Ins. Yes. 

Capt. And I've kept him and Morton apart ever 
since then. I've given tliem no cliance to compare 
notes, or fix up a story. 

Ins. Good idea — And, if they — {'Phone rings. 
■To Burns) Answer it. 

Burns. {At 'phone) Hello! Yes. he's here! 
Who wants to talk to him? {Pause) Sure — Hold 
the wire. {To Inspector) It's your house, In- 
spector. 

Ins. {Crossing to 'phone) I hope there's nothing 
wrong. {At 'phone) Hello! Yes — Everything all 
right, nurse.'' {Pause) That's good. I was worried 
for a minute. {Pmise) I know I told you and you 
did right. {Pause) How's the wife? {Pause) 
That's fine. {Pause) And — how are — they? 
{Pause) Sleeping, eh? {Pause) Well, give the 
wife my love and say — call me at headquarters at 
two o'clock. If I'm not there I'll leave word where 
I am, as I did this time. {Pause) Good-bye. Good- 
bye. {He replaces the receiver) It was the nurse ! 
(Burns begins to grin) We had twins come to our 
house the day before yesterday. Both boys ! I guess 
that's bad. 

Capt. Fine I 

Ins. Weighed eight ]>ounds apiece, too. 

(Captain looks skeptical.) 



80 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ins. Well — seven, anyway. {He sees the grin on 
Burns' face) What are you grinning about? 

Burns. Nothing, Inspector ! 

Ins. Don't you think it was seven? 

Burns. Sure I do. I'd think it was fifteen if you 
said so. 

Ins. You'd — you'd^ — • (Inspector laughs) I've 
always wanted kids ! And we've been married seven 
3'^ears, and until now we didn't have even a hope ! 
I'll be good to 'em, too. I've got no use for a man 
who isn't kind to kids and animals. {He picks up 
the revolver from the desk and begins to examine it, 
tinconcernedly) Any man who would abuse a horse, a 
dog or a child, must have something wrong with him. 
That's one thing I can't stand for. I'd rather — 
I'd — {Slight pause) Is this the gun? 

Capt. Yes. 

Ins. Who took it out of his hand? 

Capt. I did. 

Ins. How? 

Capt. Opened his hand! Why? 

Ins. Oh — nothing. (Inspector places gun on 
desk) You should see 'em — the red-faced litle devils 
— But cute — Yes, sir ! And one of 'em this morn- 
ing, he — ! {He stops and speaks to Captain) You'd 
better go back. 

Capt. All right Inspector. (Captain goes toward 
exit) 

Ins. And remember I'm handling this case now 
and if > there is any talking to be done about it I'll do 
it. 

Capt. Very good, sir. (Captain exits) 

{There is a pause. Inspector picks gun up markedly 
and examines it. Burns and Taylor come to 
him.) 

Burns. What is it, Inspector? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 81 

Ins. Finger marks. {He shows them the barrel 
of the revolver) On the underside and made by a 
man who took hold of it in this way. (i/e illustrates 
taking hold of gun by barrel) The way he xcould 
take it if he was going to put it into another man's 
hand. 

Burns. I see. 

Taylor. Yes. 

Ins. I thouglit tlie case was a false alarm — but 
there may be something in it after all. {To Taylor) 
Go and get the prints of all the men in the house and 
we'll compare them with this. (Taylor goes to exit) 
Get Mr. Morton's first then send him up. 

Taylor. Right. (Taylor exits) 

Burns. If it's the way the Captain thinks it'll 
turn out a big case. 

Ins. Yes. {He reads the retraction) This might 
furnish the motive for a killing in a fit of anger but 
it would be pretty thin for a deliberate murder ! And 
these days we've got to have a cinch case or the 
District Attorney won't touch it. He's tired of ac- 
quittals and disagreements and roastings from the 
papers. 

Burns. It isn't his fault nor the police's. It's 
the jury's. You never can tell what a jury's going to 
do. I've seen a man be convicted of robbery because 
one juror stuck out for it and the other eleven wanted 
to get away for dinner. And I know the man was 
innocent. I know it. 

Ins. Yes, and if there's a touch of sentiment — 
or a pretty woman — or an old mother — and you get 
a disagreement and not an acquittal — you can think 
you're mighty lucky. 

Burns. That's so. I don't blame the District 
Attorney. He's up against a hard game. 

Ins. It was a good move of the Captain's to keep 
Morton and the secretary from getting together and 
I shall take advantage of it if I have to. 



82 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Burns. How, Inspector? 

Ins. Go into the hall. (Burns exits) There's a 
door at the end isn't there? 
Burns. Yes. 
Ins. Where does it lead? 

(^7'liere is a pause. Burns enters upper l. from 
Brockland's room.) 

Burns. It goes into that bedroom there. 

Ins. Just as I thought ! Now, this is the scheme ! 
If I get nothing out of Morton I shall send for the 
Secretary. If I get nothing out of him, when I give 
you the office you'll make an excuse and leave. 
Clear ? 

Burns. Sure. 

Ins. You'll go downstairs and 'phone to me that 
Mrs. Harding wants to see me about something very 
important. Then I'll excuse myself, but instead of 
going downs Lairs I'll be at that door listening. 

Burns. And I'll rush back again upstairs, go into 
the room there quickly, and I'll be at that door listen- 
ing. 

Ins. Right. 

Burns. I'm on. 

Ins. Thinking they're left alone if they've got 
anything to fix up tliey'll try to do it and perhaps 
give the whole snap away not knowing that we are 
parties to it. Think it'll work? 

Burns. Sometimes it does. Inspector, sometimes 
it don't. I've seen it go both ways. 

(There is a knock at the door.) 
Ins. Come. 

(Morton enters.) 
MoRT. I believe vou wish to see me. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 83 

Ins. Mr. Morton.^ 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. I'm Inspector Cochrane. 

MoRT. Inspector. 

Ins. As you know, .V'r. MorLon, Mr. Harding was 
found dead in this room this morning with a bullet 
through his heart. 

MoRT. So I'm told. 

Ins. You didn't see the body then? 

]MoRT. No, I haven't been here since last niglit 
and when I left Mr. Harding was alive and well? 

Ins. (Indicating the retraction) You came to 
see him about this 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. Who else was present? 

MoRT. No one. 

Ins. You were alone with him all the time? 

^loRT. I was. 

Ins. How was it that you came here to see him? 

-AIoRT. As I had received no reply to a note I sent 
him earlier in the day, I 'phoned him last evening and 
he dared me to come here. 

Ins. Dared you? 

MoRT. I — I didn't exactly mean dared 

Ins. Who answered the 'phone when you called? 

MoRT. His secretary. 

Ins. And he put Mr. Harding on the wire? 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. Then what did i/ou say? 

MoRT. I demanded an answer to the note. He 
said one wasn't necessary. I insisted that it was 
and finally he said that I could come here and ^et it 
if — I . ^ 

Ins. // you xvere not afraid! That was it, wasn't 
it? (Pause) Wasn't it? 

MoRT. Well, yes it was. 

Ins. And that was the spirit in which vou came 
and in which he received vou. 



8* THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

MoRT. I'd rather not answer. 

Ins. Why.? 

MoRT. Because I see the inference that might be 
drawn and it isn't true. 

Ins. What inference? 

MoRT. That, as I came here in anger, Mr. Hard- 
ing and I quarrelled. 

Ins. And you didn't quarrel? 

MoRT. No. 

Ins. You didn't quarrel with Mr. Harding? 

MoRT. I did not. He explained everything and 
we parted as friends. 

Ins. What explanation did he give? 

MoRT. He said that the gentleman who made the 
accusations were mistaken and that he would compel 
them to withdraw their statements. 

Ins. (Reading from retraction) " Mr. Rudolpli 
Sherman;" "Mr. Peter Kip;" "Mr. Andrew Van 
Horn; " " Mr. Richard Jerome." He said lie would 
make all of these gentlemen withdraw their state- 
ments. 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. And you took his word for it. 

MoRT. He said lie could prove that they were 
wrong and I thought it only fair that he should be 
given a chance. 

Ins. How long were you here? 

MoRT. Fifteen minutes — perhaps half an hour ! 
I can't tell exactly. 

Ins. Who let you in? 

MoRT. The butler. 

Ins. Who saw you to the door when you went 
out? ' • 

MoRT. No one. 

Ins. Why didn't the butler show you out? 

MoRT, Mr. Harding tried to get him on the 
'phone but failed. I asked him not to bother about 
the matter as I could find my way alone — and I 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 85 

went. {There is a pause) There's nothing unusual 
in that — is there.'' 

Ins. (To Burns) 'Phone down for the Secretary 
to come. 

Burns. {At 'phone) Hello! Hello! (Pause) 
The Inspector wants the Secretary to come up here. 
(Pause) All riglit. Good-bye. (He replaces 
'phone) He's coming riglit away. 

Ins. I don't want there to be any mistake about 
this, Mr. Morton. 

MoRT. Neither do I. 

Ins. Now as I understand it, when you returned 
from abroad, your friends told you Mr. Harding liad 
been circulating reports against you. 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. You wrote him asking him to see you about 
it. 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. He didn't answer your note and last night 
you 'phoned him and he dared you to come here for 
his reply. 

MoRT. I withdrew that. 

Ins. Anyway he said for you to come if you 
weren't afraid. You don't withdraw that? 

AToRT. Well — no. 

Ins. You came with anger in your heart That's 
true, isn't it? 

MoRT. Y — yes ! 

Ins. But Mr. Harding said your friends lied and 
lie would make them take it back and you parted 
friends but no one saw you leave. That's your story, 
isn't it? 

MoRT. Yes. 

Ins. I hope you won't mind my saying that it isn't 
a very good one. 

ISIoRT. It's the truth just the same. 

(There is a knock.) 



86 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ins. Come. 

(Brockland enters.) 

Brotk. I'm wanted I believe. 

Ins. You were Mr. Harding's secretary? 

Brock. Yes. 

Ins. What kind of a temper was Mr. Harding in 
last night.'' 

Brock. Devilish ! Simply devilish ! 

Ins. What put him in a temper.'' 

Brock. Nothing ! When it came to temper Mr. 
Harding didn't have to be put. 

Ins. Bad tempered, eh ? 

Brock. Persistently, consistently and unapproach- 
ably ! When at his best Mr. Harding could make 
a man-eating horse look like a tame gazelle ! Tliere 
is such a thing as a man-eating horse, isn't there? 

Ins. How should I know? 

Brock. I thouglit if tliere was one person in the 
world who would know about a man-eating horse 
you would be the one. 

Ins. And why? 

Brock. Haven't any idea. The thought just — 
flitted — through my brain — tliat's all. 

Ins. Do many things flit through your brain? 

Brock. Yes indeed ! I have " flitters " quite 
frequently. 

\ 
(^There is a pause. The Inspector eyes Brock- 
land who wears an absolutely innocent expres- 
sion.) 

f 

Ins. After you put Mr. Harding on the wire last 
night something was said about " being afraid " 
wasn't there? 

Brock. I don't remember. I went back to my 
work. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 87 

Ins. And you didn't hear the conversation? 

Brock. No. I try never to hear private con- 
versations. 

Ins. But suppose you do liear tliem? 

Brock. I always forget them. 

Ins. Oh! (Pause) Were you hei'e when Mr. 
Morton arrived.^ 

Brock. I was not. 

Ins. Oh, you remember that? 

Brock. Yes. 

Ins. Why? 

Brock. Because Mr. Hardins; and I had had a 
sli^lit disagreement. 

Ins. What was the slight disagreement? 

Brock. He had discharged me ! 

Ins. Discharged you? 

Brock. Permanently. 

Ins. Why did he discliarge you? 

Brock. We couldn't agree. 

Ins. About what? 

Brock. Anything ! Not a single thing. 

Ins. Then wlw hasn't he discharged you before? 

Brock. He had — frequently ! This was perman- 
ent tliough. 

Ins. How did you know? 

Brock. I felt it! 

Ins. And you didn't see Mr. Morton ? 

Brock. No. 

Ins. Not even when he left? 

Brock. Not at all. In fact Mr. Morton and I 
never met until this morning. 

Ins. Tlien you know nothing about what oc- 
curred between IMr. Morton and Mr. Harding. 

Brock. Nothing whatever. 

Ins. Mm! (There is a pause) See about those 
finger prints. 

(Burns exits.) 



88 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Brock. There's another thing! Why did that 
chap downstairs want my finger-marks? 

MoRT. And mine. 

Brock. Did he get yours too? 

MoRT. Yes. 

Brock. He must be making a collection. 

Ins. He is — but it's a very small one. 

Brock. Who's to be in it, may I ask? 

Ins. You — Mr. Morton — and the men working in 
the house. 

Brock. Not very classy, is it? 

MoRT. Come now, Inspector, you really can't 
think that either Mr. Brockland or I, had anything 
to do with the death of Mr. Harding. It's pre- 
posterous. 

Brock. It's so silly that it's funny. 

Ins. Perhaps it is now, but later — ('Phone rings) 
it might not be and so 

Brock. Shall I answer it? 

Ins. I will. (Goes to 'phone. At 'phone) Yes. 
Who wants him? (Pause) Yes. Mrs. Harding. 
(Pause) If it's important. (Pause) No, I'd rather 
you'd come up here. (Pause) I'm very busy, iNIrs. 
Harding, and it would be much better for me if you'd 
come here. (Pause) I will if you insist but I'd 
rather not. (Pause) Very well, I'll come. (Pause) 
Yes. Right away. (Pause) Yes, I'll come now. 
Good-bye. (He hangs up 'phone) I've got to go for 
a little while but don't either of you leave this room 
till I come baqk. (Inspector exits) 

Brock. Mrs. Harding! 

(Morton stops him with a gesture.) 

MoRT. (In a whisper to Brockland very quickly) 
It's a trick. They're listening. (Brockland's face 
shows he understands. As before) Follow my lead. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 89 

I 

(Brockland nods) T wonder what she can have to 

say? 

Brock. She doesn't know anything, does she? 

MoRT. Not a thing. She can't hurt at all. 

Brock. Splendid. 

MoRT. I'll get out of it safely ! You simply have 
to stick to your story that you heard nothing. 

Brock. Don't you worry. Til stick all right. 

MoRT. li they ever found out that Harding and 
I did quarrel and that we didn't part as friends — il 
miglit go hard with me. But there's only one way 
they can find it — and that's from you. 

Brook. Then they'll never do it. 

MoRT. You were not here when I came and you 
know nothing at all as to what occurred between 
Harding and myself. You knoxc nothing at all — re- 
member that! 

Brock. That's easy for me ! 

MoRT. Stick to it, through thick and thin. 

Brock. I will. 

MoRT. Good. (There is a pause) Just the same 
I wish I knew what Mrs. Harding wanted with him. 

Brock. So do L You're sure she knows noth- 
ing? 

MoRT. Quite. We must be on our guard, 
though — ! (^The Inspector re-enters) and if 

(There is a pause.) 

Ins. That puts quite a different light on the mat- 
ter. 

MoRT. What does? 

Ins. What Mrs. Harding just told me. 

Brock. Really ? 

Ins. (To Morton) You still insist that you 
didn't quarrel with Harding? 

Mort. Certainly. 



90 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ins. {To Brockland) And you still insist that 
you heard no quarrel. 

Brock. Of course. 

Ins. You're lying both of you. 

MoRT. Inspector ! 

Brock. Oh, I say 

Ins. You're lying and I can prove it. The 'phone 
call was a fake. I left you together so I could hear 
what you had to say. I listened at that door. You 
admitted the quarrel and you acknowledged that you 
heard it. 

MoRT. Nothing of the kind. 

Ins. So you deny it, do you.^ 

MoRT. Absolutely. 

Brock. Yes. 

Ins. And it will be my word against the two of 
you? That's your idea is it? 

MoRT. It is. 

Ins. Well it won't be. Tliere'll be two of us. I 
have a witnef^s. 

MoRT. A witness? 

Ins. Yes! {Calling) Burns! (Burns enters. 
There is a pause) Did you Jiear what passed be- 
tween these two? 

Burns. I did. He said he quarrelled with Mr. 
Harding and begged liim (Brockland) to keep quiet 
about it and he said he would. {There is a pause) 

Ins. Well? {There is a pause) What have you 
to say now! 

MoRT. I deny it. No such conversation took place 
and if you say that it did, we'll swear that it's a frame- 
up. Now, what have you to say? 

{There is a pause.) 

Ins. {In a kindly tone) I wouldn't do that if I 
were you, Mr. Morton. It'll only put you in wrong. 
I understand how vou feel. This miglit turn out to be 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 91 

an ugly matter and you hate to get mixed up in it! 
But look at the facts. There's the note and there's 
the retraction. He refused to sign it and you quar- 
relled. That's the natural thing but because you 
parted bad friends doesn'i; prove that you had any- 
thing to do with his death. Don't you see.^ {Then- 
is a pause) Many a man has got himself in bad by 
not telling the truth right off the reel. And that's 
all I want — the truth! If you didn't kill him ! 

MoRT. I didn't. 

Ins. Then, you'll be able to clear yourself easy 
enough and the best way to do it is to tell everything 
just as it happened. Tiie truth goes the distance — 
it's the fake that gets punctured. {There is a pause) 
You did quarrel wih Mr. Harding and you parted bad 
friends. That's the truth. {Pause) Isn't it.^ 

MoRT. It is. {There is a pause) He refused to 
sign the retraction and I told him my suit for criminal 
libel would be begun in the morning. 

Ins. And you parted as enemies. 

]\IoRT. Yes. 

Ins. But no one saw you leave and next morning 
his body was found ! You realize the significance of 
these facts, don't you, Mr. Morton? 

MoRT. I understand the interpretation — that — 
might be placed on them but it isn't the true one. 

Ins. It's the one that will be placed on them. 

MoRT. Then it's unfair — unjust. And I think it 
might be best for me to answer no more questions. 

Ins. Why? 

MoRT. I see what you are leading up to and — well 
before I say anything more — perhaps I should see my 
counsel. 

Ins. You're not on trial ! I'm looking for the 
truth, that's all. Why should you Avant a lawyer 
unless you have sometiiing to hide ? 

MoRT. I have nothing to hide. 

Ins. Then whv the need of counsel? 



92 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 



MoRT. Because- 
Ins. Well? 



MoRT. Nothing. 

(There is a pause.) 

Ins. As I said before, after the butler let you in, 
you saw no one. (Pause) That's right, isn't it? 

MoRT. (Irresolutely) Yes. 

Ins. Not even Mrs. Harding. 

MoRT. No. 

Ins. Where was Mrs. Harding? 

MoRT. I don't know. 

Ins. (To Brockland) Do you know? 

Brock. She was dining out I believe. 

Ins. What time did she come back? 

Brock. Haven't the sliglitest idea. 

Ins. (To Burns) Go down and ask Mrs. Harding 
to please come up here. 

(Burns starts to exit.) 

MoRT. Don't do that. 

Brock. Please. 

Ins. Be nice about it though. 

Burns. Sure I will. (Burns e.rits slamming the 
door) 

Brock. If that is his idea of being nice I'd liate 
to meet him when he was perturbed. 

Ins. Don't worry about him. 

MoRT. I protest against Mrs. Harding being 
brought here and cross-questioned like a criminal. 

Ins. Not like a criminal — like a witness. 

MoRT. Mrs. Harding is a lady. 

Ins. And I know how to treat her like one. If 
you have any anxiety on that point — forget it. The 
only ladies we don't treat like ladies — aren't ladies. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 93 

MoRT. But she's in trouble enough now and it 
cr.a't possibly do any good. 

Ins. Lm the judge of that. 

MoRT. But she's nervous. 

Brock. And on the verge of a breakdown, really 
she is 

MoRT. And tlie result might be very serious for 
her 

Ins. Say, what do you fellows think I am? I 
have a woman of my own and though she don't own a 
diamond tiara her feelings are just as tender as those 
of any lady in the land ! I know how to respect 'em 
too! 

Mort. You will be gentle with her, won't you.^ 

Ins. Certainly I will. (The door opens. Mrs. 
Harding enters followed by Burns) And if you — 
{He sees Mrs. Harding) Mrs. Hardina;? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. I am Inspector Cochrane. (Mrs. Harding 
bows) I'm sorry to trouble you. ma'am, but there 
are one or two questions I must ask you. If I didn't 
have to 

Mrs. H. I understand. 

Ins. Thank you. (To Morton and Brockland) 
Wait in that room there. (He indicates Brock- 
land's room. As they go Morton, unseen by the 
others, catches Mrs. Harding's eye and makes a quick 
r/esture of silence. She nods that she understands. 
Morton and Brockland exeunt. To Burns) Keep 
'em company. (Burns exits) Sit down please. 
(Mrs. Harding bows and sits) Of course, Mrs. 
Harding, you know nothing about the death of your 
husband 

Mrs. H. Nothing — except tliat his body was found 
here, and that — he killed himself. 

Ins. Do you know any reason why he should kill 
himself? 

Mrs. H. No. 



94, THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ins. Mm! (Slight pause) You didn't have din- 
ner home last night 

Mrs. H. No. I dined with friends. 

Ins. What time did you get back? 

Mrs. H. About half-past nine, I should say. 

Ins. And just what did you do — tlien? 

Mrs. H. After I returned? 

Ins. Yes. 

Mrs. H. I kissed my little boy good-niglit, went 
to my room, read for a wliile and then went to bed. 

Ins. You didn't come up here to say good-night to 
your husband? 

Mrs. H. No. 

Ins. Excuse me again for asking tlie question, but 
were you in the habit of going to bed without seeing 
him? 

Mrs. H. When he was working I never disturbed 
him. Those were his orders. 

Ins. Then you didn't come to this room very 
often ? 

Mrs. H. No. 

Ins. Wlien was the last time you came? 

Mrs. H. I don't exactly remember. 

Ins. Just give me some idea. Have you been 
here inside of a week? 

Mrs. H. No. 

Ins. In the last month then? 

Mrs. H. No. 

Ins. In the last three months? 

Mrs. H. I should say it was at least that. 

Ins. But you are sure you haven't been here inside 
of a month? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. Did Mr. Harding ever receive any of his 
lady clients ? 

Mrs. H. Never. 

Ins. Then the only woman who came in this room, 
outside of yourself, was the maid? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 95 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. Please think before you answer this question, 
ma'am — it's most important. You are quite sure you 
haven't been in this room in less than a month. Take 
your time please. 

(There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. Yes. I am quite sure. 

Ins. Then how did this get here? (Inspector 
produces an ornament xehich had fallen from the 
evening gown worn by Mrs. Harding the night be- 
fore. There is a pause) It was found in this room 
this morning and maids don't wear things like tliese. 
(There is a pause) Well, ma'am .^ 

Mrs. H. How stupid of me. I remember now. I 
was here about a week ago and I wore my (describes 
iJie gown) and that must have fallen from it. 

Ins. About a week ago? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. (Goes to house 'phone) Hello! Mrs. Hard- 
ing wants the dress she wore last niglit brought up 
here. (Pause) Yes, the one she wore last night. 
(Pause) Sure, right away. (He replaces the 'phone 
and comes on stage. There is a pause. ]Mrs. Hard- 
ing starts as if to speak) Yes? 

Mrs. H. Nothing. 

Ins. a thing like that couldn't have been lying on 
the floor for a week without anyone seeing it. (Slight 
pause) And the dress you wore last night will be 
here in a riiinute. (Slight pause) You haven't been 
quite on the level with me. ma'am. Have you? 

(There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. No, Inspector, I haven't. And I'm 
sorry. 

Ins. And you were here last night? 



96 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 
Ins. Why did you come? 
Mrs. H. My husband sent for me. 
Ins. Why.'' {There is a pause. There is a knock 
at the door) Come. 

(Chetwoode enters. He carries a dress absolutely 
dissimilar to the one worn described by Mrs. 
Harding.) 

Chet. Here it is, ma'am. 
Ins. What? 

Chet. The dress Mrs. Hardine; wanted — tlie one 
she wore last night. 

Ins. The one she wore last night! 
Chet. Yes, sir! 

(There is a pause. Inspector -watches Chetwoode 
closely. He is absolutely imperturbable.) 

Mrs. H. There's a mistake, Chetwoode. That 
isn't the dress I wore. 

Chet. I'm sorry, ^ladam ! I hope you won't mind 
my saying it, Madam, but Hurlburt is getting very 
careless of late ! Shall I get up the other gown, 
Madam ? 

Mrs. H. It isn't necessary. 

Chet. Is there anything else. Madam? 

Mrs. H. No, Chetwoode. 

Chet. Thank you. Madam. (Chetwoode exits) 

Ins. How long has he been with you? 

Mrs. H. Some time. 

Ins.^ Pretty smart fellow, isn't he? 

Mrs. H. I haven't noticed it. 

Ins. Mm! {Slight pause) You're going to be 
on the level with me now, aren't you, ma'am? 

Mrs. H. Yes. Inspector, I'm going to be perfectly 
frank. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 97 

Ins. Good! (Pause) Well, why did your husband 
c:Ai you to come up here last night? 

Mrs. H. He had learned that Mr. Morton had re- 
turned from abroad. 

Ins. And what had you to do with that? 

Mrs. H. Before Mr. Morton went abroad my hus- 
band had been — jealous of liim. 

Ins. Were j'^ou here when INIr. Morton came? 

Mrs, H. Yes. 

Ins. And you saw tlie meetinp; between them? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. Both men were feeling pretty hot of course. 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. How long were you here with them? 

Mrs. H. Only a short time. My husband ordered 
me — he compelled me — to leave. 

Ins. Then what did you do? 

Mrs. H. I went to my room. 

Ins. Where is it? 

INIrs. H. Two floors below. 

Ins. And vou heard no shot? 

Mrs. H. No. 

Ins. Who sleeps on this floor? 

Mrs. H. Mr. Brockland — and my son. 

Ins. Where is your son's room? 

Mrs. H. Across the hall. 

Ins. And he was in bed 

AIrs. H. Yes ! But he heard nothing. 

Ins. How do you know? 

Mrs. H. He said so. 

Ins. Then you asked him? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

(Inspector goes to house 'phone.) 

Ins. {At 'phone) Hello! Mrs. Harding wants 
lier boy sent up right away! Good-bye. (Inspector 
replaces 'phone) 



98 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. Please don't question him. It's too 
terrible. Besides he heard nothing. He told me so. 

Ins. I don't see where it can do _any harm — 
ma'am. 

Mrs. H. But he's so young and you know how 
impressionable children are — and I want him to for- 
get it — everything, if I can. 

Ins. I understand, ma'am. I'll be careful. 

Mrs. H. Let me ask him. 

Ins. No, ma'am. 

Mrs. H. Please! 

Ins. No, ma'am. 

Mrs. H. This is bound to impress it on his memory 
— and that is the very thing I want to avoid, so if 
you will only 

(Bennie enters.) 

Ben. Here I am mamma ! what did — ! (He sees 
the Inspector) Hello! 

Ins. Hello, sonny ! 

Ben. You're a policeman, aren't you? 

Ins. Yes, but you're not afraid of nie? 

Ben. No, I'm good! Isn't that so, mamma .^ 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Ben. What did you want, mamma? 

Mrs. H. This gentleman is Inspector Cochrane. 

Ben. How do you do. Inspector. (He offers his 
hand which the Inspector takes) 

Ins. How do you do. 

Mrs. H. He's going to ask you some questions 
and you must answer them for him. 

Ben. (To Inspector) Are they in arithmetic? 

Ins. ' No, sonny. 

Ben. Then very well. 

Ins. Now tell me — did you sleep home last night? 

Ben. Yes. I always sleep home. 

Ins. And did you sleep well? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 99 

Ben. Not very, I tliink. 

Ins. Why didn't you? 

Ben. I was awakened and then I dreamed. 

Ins. And wlio awakened you? 

(There is a pause.) 

Ben. Mamma, must I tell liim anything he wants 
to know? 

Mrs. H. No, dear. You can go — I'll tell him. 

Ins. Excuse me, ma'am, but I'd rather get it from 
the boy. 

Mrs. H. But I'll tell you — everything 

Ins. So you said before, ma'am. 

Mrs. H. But this time — I will. 

Ins. I'm sorry. 

IVIrs. H. But, Inspector 

Ins. Please. (There is a pause. To Bennie) 
Who awakened you. sonny? 

[TIic boif looks al Mrs. Harding appealingly.) 

]Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Ins. Well? 

Ben. Mamma did. 

Ins. And what did she say? 

Ben. She said someone wanted to see me. 

Ins. And then? 

Ben. She brought me in here to meet Uncle Geof- 
frey. 

Ins. Uncle Geoffrey? 

Ben. Yes. 

Ins. And who is Uncle Geoffrey? 

Ben. Don't you know about him? 

Ins. No. 

Ben, I thought everybody knew about Uncle Geof- 
frey. Didn't you, mamma? 



100 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

(There is a pause.) 

• Ins. Why should everybody know about him? 

Ben. Because his pictures have been in the papers 
and he builds bridges and tunnels and things all over 
the world. 

(There is a pause and the idea dawns on the In- 
spector.) 

Ins. Morton! Geoffrey Morton? 
Ben. Yes, that's Uncle Geoffrey. Of course you 
know about him. 

{There is a pause. The Inspector looks at Mrs. 
Harding.) 

Mrs. H. I shouldn't have let him come. Send him 
away and I'll tell you anything you want to know. 

Ins. I'm sorry. 

Mrs. H. Please do. Please. 

Ins. No, ma'am. He must tell. (Mrs. Harding 
makes an imploring gesture) He must. 

(Mrs. Harding turns away.) 

Ins. And now, sonny, what did Uncle Geoffrey 
do? 

Ben. Must I tell him, mamma? 

Mrs. H. (^With a gesture of despair) Yes — yes! 

Ins. Well, what did Uncle Geoffrey do? 

Ben. He told me about the squirrel I fed in the 
parks and said he was going to give me the pVny he 
promised me. 

Ins. And then? 

Ben. Then papa called me over to him 

Ins. Oh! Papa was there too. 

Ben. Yes. All the time — didn't I tell you? 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 101 

Ins. No. 

Ben. I thought I did. 

Ins. It doesn't matter. And what did papa do? 

Ben. He was angry. And I liadn't done any- 
thing at all. Had I, mamma? 

Ins. Never mind your mamma, sonny. What — did 
papa do a'fter he called you over to him ? 

Ben. He asked me about my reports from school. 

Ins. And then? 

Ben. Tliey were all good but one. 

Ins. What was that? 

Ben. Arithmetic. 

Ins. Well — (Pause) What did pa])a do when he 
found that wasn't good? 

Ben. He — he — Mamma, I don't M'ant to tell 
him. 

Ins. You must. 

Mrs. H. He won't. 

Ins. He will. 

Mrs. H. He won't! I'll tell you. 

Ins. But, Mrs. Harding ! 

Mrs. H. I'll tell you! He took the boy into his 
room across the hall, and he flogged him — till he 
screamed — flogged him with that wliip. 

Ins. He beat him — with that? 

Mrs. H. Yes, with that. 

Ins. The skunk! The dirty skunk! 

(There is a pause.) 

Ben. I only liad my pajamas on — and he hurt me 
— a great deal — Look — (Bennie hevds his head as 
thoufjh to short' the marks on his shoulders. The In- 
spector listens) 

Ins. His own father! What do you think of that? 
(There is a pause. To Mrs. Harding) You say the 
boy screamed 

Mrs. H. Yes. 



102 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Ins. And what did Morton do — {There is a pause) 
You've got to go through now, ma'am. You can't help 
it. 

{There is a pause.) 

Mrs. H. He was always fond of Bennie arid he — 
rushed in to stop it. 

Ins. Yes. 

Mrs. H. There was a straggle and Mr. Morton 
took the whip away from him and came back in here. 

Ins. And your husband followed? 

Mrs. H. Yes ! Then I slipped out and took Ben- 
nie to my room and kept him there. 

Ben. .And when I woke up I was awfully surprised 
at first. I hadn't slept in mamma's room for ever so 
long. 

Mrs. H. And that's all lie knows. I swear it is. 
He can go now, can't he? 

Ins. Yes, ma'am. 

Mrs. H. Run along, dear. 

Ben. You don't want me any more 

]\Irs. H. No, dear. I'll come down in a few min- 
utes. 

Ben. Very well. May I tell the cook I can have 
a piece of cake ? 

Mrs. H. Yes, dear. 

Ben. Goodie! Good-bye, Inspector. 

Ins. Good-bye, sonny. (Bennie e.rits) Whipped 
him — with that ! He must have been a fine man ! 

Mrs. H. He was terrible ! I couldn't begin to 
tell you the indignities — the cruelties — I've suffered, 
but I bore them all for the sake of the boy ! And he's 
dead now, and I thought I could hide it to the last. 
That's the reason I didn't tell the wliole truth — 
everything — from the beginning. 

Ins. Yes, ma'am. (Pause) There's just one more 
question and you don't have to answer it if you don't 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 103 

want to. (There is a pause) Mr. Morton is in love 
with you, isn't lie.'' (There is a pause) I think I 
understand things now ! It was this way, when 
you 

(Policeman enters.) 

Policeman. Here are the prints, Inspector. 
Ins. Good! Now we'll soon clear this up. (Calls) 
Burns ! Burns ! 

(Burns appears.) 

Burns. Yes, Inspector. 

Ins. Let those men in. (Burns opens door and 
]\IoRTON and Brockland enter. Morton is anxious 
and alert) I had your prints taken because there 
v.ere some on the barrel of the revolver. I wanted 
to compare them. (To Morton) If they're yours 
I'm afraid you'll be in a bad spot. (To Policeman) 
Go to it. 

(Theij compare the finger prints. Inspector, Burns 
and other Policeman.) 

Burns. Not a bit like it. 

Ins. That's right. Now try his. 

Brock. Mine? 

Ins. Yes. 

Brock. Isn't this interesting? 

(They compare them.) 

Taylor. No. 

Brock. Oh, what a relief. 

Ins. What others have you? 

Policeman. The second man and the butler's. 

Ins. Try one of them. 



104. THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

(They compare them.) 

Burns. I believe that's it. 

Policeman. Yes. i 

Ins. It is. It is! Whose are those? 

Policeman. The butler's. 

Ins. The butler's.'' 

Policeman. Yes. 

Ins. For the love of Mike! And we're all up here 
and he might be making his get away. (Inspector 
goes quickly to house 'phone) Hello ! Is the butler 
there? Oh, is that you? Just a minute. (In- 
spector shows his relief then puts 'phone to his 
breast. To Policeman) Go downstairs quietly 
both of you while I keep him talking. When you get 
to him send him up here and see that he comes. Then 
one wait outside in the hall there and tlie other wait at 
the rear of the house. If you catch him making a bolt 
don't be afraid to shoot! Get! (Burns and Police- 
man exeunt. At 'phone) Hello! (Pause) Yes. 
(Pause) Mrs. Harding has changed her mind about 
the dress. (Pause) Yes, she has changed her 
mind. (Pause) She wants you to bring up the one 
she wore last night and, so as to be sure you get the 
right one, I'll give you the description. Wait a min- 
ute till I get it from Mrs. Harding. (There is a lone/ 
pause) Mrs. Harding says, it's a — (He gives a de- 
scription of the gown getting it slightly mixed when 
in a changed tone) Hello! That you, Burns? Good! 
Bring him in. (He replaces 'phone) Can you tie 
that ! The Butler ! And you wouldn't think he had 
nerve enough to hand a bunch of lettuce to a jack- 
rabbit ! 

MoRT. You don't imagine that lie did it? 

Brock. Of course not. 

Ins. If he didn't he knows who did. The gun was 
put in the man's hand after he was shot and this fel- 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 105 

low's prints are on the barrel! It's straight as a 
string. 

Brock. But, Inspector 

Ins. That timid-like, quiet chap ! He ! Him ! 
Pussy-foot Pete ! And it was he switched those 
dresses on me ! Take it from me, he's a regular fel- 
low, that's what he is — he's a regular fellow ! 

Brock. {To Mrs. Harding) I wonder what he'll 
say. 

(Burns enters.) 

Btrns. Here he is. 

(Chetwoode enters. BimNs exits. There is a pause.) 

Ins. Good evening and how do you do ! 

Chet. I'm very well, thank you. 

Ins. That's good news — splendid news. 

Chet. I'm glad to hear it! And how are you? 

Ins. Couldn't be better. 

.Chet. Charmed, I'm sure! And how's your 
mother } 

Ins. She's — There stop that! Stop that! You 
can't kid me. {There is a pause) Have you ever 
seen this gun before? 

Chet. Quite often. 

Ins. Have you ever handled it? 

Chet. Once or twice. 

Ins. Why? 

Chet. For various reasons. For instance about 
a week ago Mr. Harding discovered that it didn't 
work very freely and he asked me to adjust it. I 
understand sucli things. I have a slight sporting 
tendency, you see. 

Ins. Was that the last time you handled it? 

Chet. Oh, no. 

Ins. When was the last time? 



106 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Chet. This morning. 

Ins. You handled it this morning? 

Chet. I did. 

Ins. How was that? 

Ghet. The Captain asked me to come here and 
help him remove the body. As I did so, that was in 
the Avay and I picked it up. 

Ins. How did you pick it up? 

Chet. In the usual manner. 

(Inspector places the revolver on the floor.) 

Ins. Sliow me. 

Chet. Pardon me. It was pointing this way, 
{^He turns the barrel tozvard him) and I picked it up 
in this manner. (He picks up the revolver by the 
barrel) And placed it on the table — so — (He places 
the revolver on the table. There is a pause) 

Ins. Say, you're a hell of a smart guy, aren't you? 

Chet. You forget that Mrs. Harding is present. 

Ins. I beg your pardon, ma'am. I'm sorry. (I\Irs. 
Harding botes. To Chetwoode) I've certainly got 
to hand it to you for your speed ! You think quicker 
then a cat jumps off a hot stove. And they say the 
English are slow. You are English, aren't you? 

Chet. On my father's side. My mother is Welsh. 

Ins. Well, take it from me your mother wins! 
You don't get away with that story though. I shall 
spend a little more time with you later on. 

Chet. Whenever you're ready, sir. 

Ins. Stand back there. 

Chet. Certainly. (Chetwoode goes up stage) 

Ins. Mr. Morton, for awhile I thought we had a 
new angle on this affair, but it seems I was wrong, 
and everything still points to the fact that you killed 
Mr. Harding. 

Mort. That's preposterous. 

Brock. Certainly it is. 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 107 

Ins. You still stick to the suicide theory. 

MoRT. Of course. 

Ins. And you still say that you saw no one except 
the butler and Mr. Harding? 

MoRT. I do. 

Ins. Not even Mrs. Harding? 

MoRT. No. 

Ins. . Nor her son? 

MoRT. No. 

Ins. Mr. INIorton, you're not telling the trutli. 

AfoRT. Inspector. 

Ins. You're not. Mrs. Harding and the boy have 
botli admitted seeing you last night. 

MoRT. Oh, no they haven't! It's a trick like the 
'phone message was. I didn't see either of them and 
so they couldn't admit it. 

Ins. Ask Mrs. Harding. 

MoRT. {To Mrs. Harding) Did you tell him? 
(Pause) Did you? 

M^s. H. I — had to. 

MoRT. You sliouldn't Iiave done it. You've spoiled 
— (Fie stops short as thour/h ffoinc/ to betray himself) 

Ixs. She also told me of your fight with Mr. 
Harding and how she left you both here, still quar- 
relling violently. Do you deny that or don't you? 

MoRT. What's tlie use of denying it if she's turned 
against me? 
' Mrs. H. Geoffrey! 

Ins. And now do you still deny that you killed 
Mr. Harding? 

I\IoRT. Most empliatically ! I did quarrel witli him 
— I admit that 

Ins. And vou came to blows 



MoRT. Yes, but there was no leal harm done and 
lie was alive and well when I left. 
Ins. Only no one saw you go! 

(There is a pause.) 



108 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

MoRT. You're not taking it as seriously as that? 

Ins. I'm sorry to tell you that I am. {There is a 
pause) Mr. Morton, I have got to arrest you for 
murder. 

(There is a pause. Mrs. Harding puts her hands 
over her mouth as though to stop an outcry.) 

Mort. For — murder ? 

Ins. Why not? Look at the facts? Harding 
circulates reports against you. You come demanding 
a retraction. He refuses. You quarrel. He beats 
the boy. You interfere. There is a fight. You 
come back here. The blood of both of you is hot. 
He gets the gun and puts it on the table. Each word 
leads to a worse — finally he taunts you — taunts you 
with the fact that you are in love witli his wife ! 

Brock. Inspector ! 

Ins. And in a fit of rage you pick up the gun and 
fire. That's how it was, wasn't it — (Pause) 
Wasn't it? 

MoRT. No. I didn't kill him. I didn't, I tell you. 

Ins. And I say you did! Your blood was up and 
the gun was on the table. And when you couldn't 
stand it any longer you picked it up, fired and killed 
him. Didn't you? Didn't vou? 

MoRT. No'! No! No!!' 

Ins. You did. 

MoRT. I didn't. 

Ins. You did. 

MoRT. I tell you I — I — (He catches sight of 
Mrs. Harding's face) Oh, what's the use of denying 
it any longer. Yes, I did ! I didn't intend to do it 
— but I fired — and I killed him. And now — you 
know. 

(There is a pause.) 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. 109 

Ins. I'm sorry, but you must come with me. 

(There is a pause. Morton and Inspector f/o to- 
ward exit.) 

Mrs. H. No! No! I can't let you do it — I 

can't 

Mort. Margaret ! 

Brock. INIrs. Harding! 

Mrs. H. He didn't kill him. / did. 

Ins. You! 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Mort. She's trying to shield me. That's all. 

Brock. Yes. 

Mrs H. I did it. 

Mort. She's hysterical. She doesn't know what 

she's doing. 

Mrs. H. I tell you that I 

Mort. For God''s sake, IMargaret. remember what 

you're saying. .^ i . t 

]\Irs. H. I thought I could let ygu do it, but 1 
can't! I'm the one who killed him and I'm the one 
who must pay. 

INIoRT. No, Margaret, no. 

Mrs. H. Yes, I tell you, yes. Yes! Yes! 

Ins. There's something here I don't understand. 

^Iort. It's perfectly plain. She's trying to pro- 
tect me by taking the blame on herself. 

Brock. That's it. 

]Mrs. H. It's not. I did it and he wants to sacri- 
fice himself to save me. But I won't let him. I 
won't let him. . 

Mort. (To Inspector) She's upset, hysterical. 

Mrs. H. I'm telling the truth — you shan't suffer 

for what I did. 

Mort. (To Inspector) I've confessed. I ve told 
you how it was done. What more do you want? 
Come along. 



no THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

Mrs. H. No ! No ! 
MoRT. Come, Inspector, come. 

Mrs. H. You shan't! You shan't! {She goes 
to door and stands before it, blocking Morton) 
MoRT. Margaret ! 

{There is a pause.) 

Ins. (To Mrs. Harding) You mean wliat you 
say? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

MoRT. She doesn't. 

Brock. No. 

Mrs. H. I do. I'm going to tell the truth — the 
whole truth — and nothing, nothing in the world can 
stop me. 

MoRT. Margaret ! Please ! 

Mrs. H. (Breaking dozen) Oh, my dear, my 
dear ! I can't let you do it. I love you too much, 
and I can't let you. I — I just can't. That's all — 1 
can't. « 

MoRT. And I can't let you protect me by trump- 
ing up a story and taking the blame on yourself. 

? Irs. H. Geoffrey ! 

MoRT. (To Inspector) I quarrelled with Hard- 
ing and I killed him. I admit it. I confess it. 
Doesn't that satisfy you.'' 

Ins. No. There's something back of this. 

MoRT. There isn't. I did it. I tell you 

Mrs. H. He didn't. (Going to Inspector) 
Listen to me, Inspector. 

MoRT. No ! 

Ins. Yes ! 

Mort. But, Inspector 

Ins. I'm going to hear what she has to Say. 

MoRT. But, it will be lies, all lies. 

Ins. I'll be the judge of that. 

MoRT. But, I tell vou that 



THE LAW OF THE LAND. Ill 

Ins. {To Morton) That'll do. (7'o Mrs. 
Harding) Go on, ma'am. 

Mrs. H. Everything was just as J,, liave told you 
until tlie .time I took the boy down to my room. Only 
I didn't stay witli him. I came back up here.. 

^^()RT. It's a lie. 

Mrs. H. They did quarrel, but in the end he went 
away and left me here with my husband. Chetwoode 
sliowed him to the door. 

Ins. Did you? 

Chkt. Yes. 

Mort. Anotlier lie. 

Mrs. H. With the exception of striking me, my 
Imsband did everytliing he could think of to hurt me. 
He reviled me, he tlireatened me, but I was so numb 
— so tired — it had no effect. This roused all the fiend 
tliat was in him — and he swore that he would hurt me 
— in some way — but he could find none, till he saw — 
that — {She points to the whip) 

Ins. This? 

Mrs. H. Yes. 

Ins. Again? 

Mrs. H. Yes. Then he knew that he had me — 
he knew he had found the means of punishing me. 
He picked it up and said he would thrash Bennie 
again, that he would beat him till he couldn't stand. 
I pleaded with him, but he only laughed. So I 
took the revolver, went to the door and told him that 
if he didn't put that down I would — shoot. But, he 
didn't believe me — he only laughed all the more — 

and came toward me — and then — and then 

Ins. I know the rest ! You dropped the gun, it 
Vv-as discharged by accident and shot him through the 
heart ! 

{There is a pause.) 

:\Irs. H. What! What did vou sav? 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



112 



THE LAW OF 




the 



003 449 135 5 

— ^ Clinic up anci, 

gun in his hand. 



(Morton fjoes to 

It happened that 
{To Chetwoode) 



Ins. Yon dropped tlie i!;i 

cident, and shot him throu 
,ot friglitenerf, went away, a 
thinking to help you out, put 
It's as plain as day ! 

MoRT. Of course it is. 

Brock. Certainly. 

MoRT. Margaret ! Margaret ! 
]\Irs. Harding) 

Ins. There were no witnesses, 
way and that's all there is to it. 
You're the cause of all this trouble. 

Chet. Yes, Inspector, and I'm very sorry. 

Ins. How's my mother! I'd take you along 
only — ! {He laughs) You're all right even if you 
are English. (The 'phone rings) That's probably 
for me. (He goes to 'phone. At 'phone) Hello! 
(Pause) How are you. Coroner? (Pause) Noth- 
ing doing. It was an accident, that's all. (Pause) 
How long will ycu be? (Paiise) Then I'll wait. I 
want to tell you about the kids. (Pause) Yes, 
they're doing fine — both of 'em ! And the grips they 
liave ! One of 'em this morning took hold of my 
finger — yes, the one I'v^e named Herman, after 
you — (Curtain begins to fall) Well, sir, he held 
on to it as if he would never let go. (Pause) No, I 
didn't have to pry him off. Still I didn't know a kid 
could have a grip like that — and honest. Coroner 



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